Description

Research Coordinator

Location: Ecosystem Science & Soc Center
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 608373
Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU aims to be the nation's preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.



Special Information

This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.

Job Description

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is seeking applications for a Research Coordinator position focused on a variety of research projects within the Desert and Intermountain Restoration Team (DIRT) lab, which focuses on research in soil ecology, restoration ecology, dryland ecology and related fields. The planned duration is for at least two years, but is dependent upon availability of funding.

Major job duties include:

1. Travel to support field work in various locations multiple times per year, at times leading others in conducting field research activities. Field work may require camping and living in outdoor conditions.
2. Performing laboratory analyses at NAU or partner institutions to support our research projects.
3. Conducting or supporting others in conducting greenhouse studies.
4. Leading selected research subprojects, including all steps from data collection, analysis through dissemination.
5. Providing support in data analysis and presentation, and research proposal preparation, and reporting.
6. Maintaining well-organized and well-stocked laboratory spaces, serving as a laboratory point-of-contact, and encouraging safe practices and training compliance.
7. Travel and purchasing support.
8. Training others in our laboratory in our research methods (includes mentoring opportunities).

Research - 25%

• Duties may include various combinations of the following as needed, shifting through time:
  • Assistance with data analysis, proposal preparation, or reporting to funders.
  • Leads own component of a research project.
  • Co-mentoring of junior lab members.
  • Preparing research products (papers, presentations, etc.) or assisting in their preparation.

Field Work - 20%

• Travels to support field work (e.g. data collection) in teams of at least 2 people in various locations (e.g., Montana, Mojave and Sonoran Deserts) multiple times per year.
• Occasionally leads teams through monitoring activities at field site.
• At times, camping and living in outdoor conditions for up to 1 week at a time.

Laboratory and Greenhouse Work - 20%

• Performs laboratory analyses at NAU or partner institutions to support our research projects.
• Conducts or supports others in conducting greenhouse studies.

Laboratory Maintenance - 10%

• Maintains well-organized and well-stocked and safe laboratory space.
• Serves as a laboratory point-of-contact with University and external inspectors.
• Encourages safe practices and training compliance.
• Orders materials and supplies for the laboratory.
• Maintains lab website.

Travel and Purchasing Support - 10%

• Assists lab members in obtaining travel authorizations and needed travel reservations using a purchasing card.
• Submits and tracks purchasing orders.
• Maintains records and accurately reconciles purchasing card.

Training - 10%

• Trains others in common laboratory, greenhouse and field methods used in the lab.

Other - 5%

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline, and
• 2-4 years of research support experience; or
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., MA or MS) in bioscience, forestry, environmental science or related field.
• Experience in greenhouse propagation and experimentation.
• Experience with molecular and bioinformatics techniques.
• Experience programming in R and conducting statistical data analysis.
• Mentoring and/or hands on teaching experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Specific knowledge of and experience working with biological soil crusts (biocrusts).
• Familiarity with common survey techniques and measurements applied to biocrusts (e.g. enzyme assays, chlorophyll a, cover).
• Familiarity with principles of experimental design.
• Intermediate knowledge of principles and techniques of relevant research practices (e.g., principles of experimental design, drawing inference from statistical analysis)
• Intermediate knowledge of research methods, protocols, data collection, and analysis (e.g. greenhouse propagation and experimentation, survey techniques and measurements applied to biocrusts, molecular & bioinformatics techniques)
• Developing knowledge of relevant research disciplines (soil ecology, restoration ecology, dryland ecology)
• Knowledge of proper safety and compliance practices related to the conduct of research (includes laboratory and field).

Skills

• Intermediate technical understanding and proficiency related to conducting relevant research procedures (e.g. field and lab procedures).

Abilities

• Coordinates and monitors the technical execution of relevant research procedures.
• Balances competing priorities and tasks.
• Organizes data and information and supports analysis.
• Communicates effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Promotes a welcoming environment.

Background Information

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Anticipated salary range is $51,085 to $56,000. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Benefits

This is a Classified Staff (CLS) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System; paid vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. Classified Staff employees are in a probationary status for their first six months at NAU. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. Additionally, new employees will begin participating in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date.

Learning and Development

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Application Deadline

May 26, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled/Protected Veterans. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Know Your Rights Poster

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.



To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=608373&PostingSeq=1







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