Research Associate

Position Function:

The Forest Hydrology and Soils Lab at Mississippi State University is seeking a Research Associate to support streamflow and water quality monitoring efforts at the Wolf River Coastal Forest Research and Education Center. Overnight travel of 2-3 days per month will be required.

Salary Grade:  13

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Department of Forestry is one of three departments in the College of Forest Resources and the Mississippi State University’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center. Departmental activities include undergraduate and graduate instruction, research, and extension programs in forestry and natural resources. The Department has excellent facilities in Thompson Hall on the campus of Mississippi State University. A new multi-million dollar greenhouse complex dedicated to forestry is now in the construction phase and will provide multiple environments for a variety of studies. The MSU John W. Starr Memorial Forest, an 8,244-acre research and teaching forest, and the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge and Tombigbee National Forest are near the university and are used for teaching and research activities.
Mississippi State University is a Carnegie High Research Activity institution and a land grant university which includes the Mississippi State University Extension Service. The university is located in Starkville, a beautiful college town in northeast Mississippi (www.msstate.edu/web/about).

Anticipated Appointment Date:

October 2025. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Watershed delineation and monitoring plan: work with land managers to delineate watersheds for monitoring that align with forest management plans.
• Streamflow and water quality monitoring: assist in installation and maintenance of streamflow and water quality monitoring equipment. Overnight travel of 2-3 days per month is expected.
• Sample collection: collect water samples following established protocols. Adhere to QA/QC requirements.
• Sample analysis: conduct field and laboratory tests to analyze water samples.
• Data processing: compile and analyze data.
• Reporting: write reports summarizing findings that can be shared with different stakeholder groups.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Hydrology, or closely related field
• A valid U.S. driver’s license
• Salary commensurate with experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Forestry, Ecology, Environmental Science, Hydrology, or closely related field
• Experience in maintaining and calibrating water sensors
• Experience (or advanced familiarity) in wet analytical chemistry including elemental combustion analysis, colorimetric analysis, and/or chromatography
• Experience in writing and publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with collecting and analyzing environmental water samples.
• Ability to follow streamflow and water quality monitoring protocols.
• Ability to work independently and to conduct physical work in all types of weather, navigate remote terrain, and lift heavy equipment
• Ability to maintain accurate, neat, and well-organized data records
• Strong written and oral communication skills for reporting and interacting with project personnel
• Proficiency in general computers skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, geospatial software, statistical software

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Regularly involves lifting, bending or other physical exertion. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc., with one often to the point of being objectionable. Injuries may require professional treatment.
• Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume seasonal and predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than immedi