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Two job offers at the Desert Research Institute

                           POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

Position 1:  Assistant Research Scientist

Position 2:  Post-Doctoral Fellow

Soil Science/Hydrology

Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences

 (12 month temporary appointment)


The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is an environmental sciences research organization within the Nevada System of Higher Education.  DRI is seeking one or more innovative scientists with expertise in the general areas of soil hydrology, soil physics, and soil mechanics to support newly funded projects.  Current project efforts are focused on developing systematic relations among landform type, soil morphology, surface condition, and vegetative cover that can provide realistic predictions or estimations of soil strength, soil moisture, and soil dust emission. 

We seek scientists with knowledge, experience, or interest in more than one of the following technical areas:

  1. Design, operation, and data analysis of field- and laboratory-based systems for monitoring soil mass-energy balance (e.g. sensors: soil moisture, temperature, dielectric, weather parameters; operation/programming of data loggers, processing of collected data). 
  2. Development and/or operation of field and laboratory experiments to measure parameters effecting soil strength and soil mechanics
  3. Collection and analysis of field and laboratory data measuring parameters of soil strength and soil moisture (e.g. cone penetrometer, soil moisture meters/probes, soil density gauge, use of tension infiltrometers, other methods to measure soil hydrologic parameters).
  4. Analytical operations in a soil laboratory, including a wide range of soil physical (e.g. laser-optical particle-size determination, bulk density, sieving), chemical analysis (e.g. soluble extracts, pH, mineral extractions, XRF), and hydrologic (e.g. moisture release curves, calibration of soil moisture probes, moisture-based thermal parameters).  Ability to learn methods of data QA/WC and related data analysis and preparation or reports is essential.
  5. Numerical modeling of soil hydrologic and physical properties using existing software (e,g, Hydrus, Rosetta, SHAW, SSiB).
  6. Analytical field- and laboratory operations to characterize the propagation of electromagnetic wave propagation in soil systems (e.g. GPR, ground conductivity meter).
  7. Analysis of soil thermal properties.
  8. Ability to assist with conversion of field, laboratory, and field monitoring data into tables and figures for reports and publications (e.g. Excel, SigmaPlot, SigmaStat, SYSTAT).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • US citizenship
  • M.S. or PhD in soil science, geophysics, hydrology, geoscience, or related fields in engineering (e.g. geologic, environmental)
  • Experience in two of more of the research areas above
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Evidence of the ability to participate in collaborative, team-based oriented research
  • Self-starter who can take direction but does not require it
  • Ability to work independently to fulfill project goals and meet project deadline
  • Able to work extended hours in the field (often in remote locations) and travel as required
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