Scientist, Environmental Science, Environmental Compliance

Scientist I

Job Title
- Scientist I

Working Title
- Water Quality Technician

Department Name - PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES

Work Location
- Paducah, KY

Grade Level - 44

Salary Range - $43,/year

Type of Position
- Staff

Position Time Status
- Full-Time

Required Education - MS

Required Related Experience
- No experience required.

Required License/Registration/Certification
- None

Physical Requirements
- Lifting objects up to 50 lbs, bending, squatting, sitting for long periods of time. Regular job-related travel and ability to drive a 4X4 vehicle.

Shift
- Monday
- Friday 8:00AM- 5:00PM (40 hours/wk) Possible Weekend and night work as needed.

Job Summary
- The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences within the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MGCAFE) seeks a full-time Field Scientist to support a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-funded research project focused on wetland water quality in western Kentucky. The project evaluates the effectiveness of wetlands established through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) in reducing nutrient and sediment transport from agricultural landscapes.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team investigating how wetland age and management influence surface water quality. Primary responsibilities include operating and maintaining water-quality monitoring equipment, collecting environmental samples, processing and managing data, and assisting with technical reporting. Training will be provided for project-specific methods and instrumentation. The position requires periodic overnight travel within western Kentucky, with all project-related travel expenses covered.

Candidates should possess, or be willing to obtain, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Remote Pilot Certificate to support aerial data collection activities. A typical month will involve traveling to field sites throughout rural western Kentucky, often operating a pickup truck and trailer, conducting field sampling using an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), collecting and processing surface-water runoff samples, downloading and managing data from monitoring systems, inspecting and maintaining instrumentation, and preparing summaries and reports of field activities and data collection efforts.

The ideal candidate will possess a M.S. Degree in an agriculture, soil, water, geology, or environmental discipline, be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently in outdoor environments while contributing effectively to a collaborative scientific research team.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities - GPS; MS Excel, MS Word or similar software;

ESRIGIS;
Mac OS; PC OS.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? - No

Preferred Education/Experience - MS with two or more years or BS degree with four or more years field experience (farm background, geology or forestry field course, internship or outdoor field education experience, etc.) preferred. Valid Driver's License preferred.

Final date to receive applications - 07/03/2026

Our University Community
- We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination.

The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources.

These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

Optional Documents