Research Associate III, Step 1 - Data Analyst & Soil Lab Manager

Purpose of the Position:

The Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) seeks a Data Analyst & Soil Laboratory Manager to support environmental data analysis and soil laboratory operations within the Critical Zone Hydrology (CZHydro) Research Group. This position combines environmental data analysis (~70%) with soil laboratory analysis and management (~30%). The successful candidate will contribute to research focused on land–water interactions, soil moisture dynamics, watershed processes, and environmental monitoring across Alabama and the southeastern United States. The position integrates quantitative data science workflows with hands-on laboratory soil characterization to support applied Earth system science research.

Duties / Responsibilities:

Environmental Data Analysis
• Analyze and preprocess environmental datasets, including hydrologic, meteorological, and geospatial data relevant to land–water systems (e.g., precipitation, streamflow, soil moisture).
• Develop automated data pipelines and reproducible analytical workflows using programming tools such as Python or R.
• Apply GIS and geospatial analysis techniques for watershed characterization, terrain analysis, and landscape-scale environmental assessments.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams to ensure data quality, transparency, and reproducibility of analytical methods.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical reports, manuscripts, figures, and presentations to communicate research findings.

Soil Laboratory Analysis & Management
• Conduct soil texture classification and soil water retention curve analysis following established laboratory procedures, maintain standard QC protocols in soil testing and laboratory data collection.
• Manage day-to-day laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, calibration, and safety compliance.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment, and manage laboratory supplies and inventory.
• Train and supervise students in soil analysis techniques, proper documentation, and laboratory safety practices.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Hydrology, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Earth System Science, Atmospheric Science, or a closely related field.
• 2 to 2.5 years full-time work experience.
• Experience working with environmental monitoring datasets (e.g., precipitation, soil moisture, climate, streamflow).
• Strong proficiency in data analysis and scientific workflows
• Experience with scientific programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R, or similar).
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to work with large environmental datasets (e.g., NetCDF, GeoTIFF).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (MS) in Hydrology, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Earth System Science, or related field is preferred.
• Experience conducting soil texture analysis and soil water retention curve analysis is desired.
• Experience working in Linux/HPC environments is desired.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are desired.

Published Salary (if available):

$52,216 - $55,407