Research Associate II - Sustainability

Colorado State University is seeking a Research Associate II - Sustainability for an in-person position in Fort Collins, CO. The role involves contributing to research within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The annual salary ranges from $90,000 to $100,000, with a comprehensive benefits package. CSU is recognized for its strong community and commitment to transforming lives through research and education. Applications are due by June 15, 2025.
Position Location
Fort Collins, CO

Work Location
Position is fully in-office/in-person

Research Professional Position
Yes

Posting Number
202500694AP

Position Type
Admin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification Title
Research Associate II

Number of Vacancies

Work Hours/Week
40

Proposed Annual Salary Range
$90,000-$100,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
• Review our detailed benefits information here.
• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

Desired Start Date
07/01/2025

Position End Date (if temporary)

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on
06/15/2025

Description of Work Unit

As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a land-grant institution, with enrollment of more than 34,000 students. CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program. CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $400 million in research funding annually, putting the university among top federally funded public universities without a medical school.

Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It consistently ranks high on quality-of-life measures by numerous publications; see https://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awards for the complete list. The Front Range has developed into a high-tech hub with companies such as Woodward, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM, Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcomm, AMD, Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins. The city offers a pleasant climate, excellent schools, and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby. For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website: www.visitftcollins.com.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MECH) at CSU offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. Made up of 46 faculty members, 13 staff members, 1,200 undergraduate students, and 150 graduate students, ME is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and $18M in annual research expenditures provide groundbreaking opportunities focusing on health, materials, and energy, for graduate students to enhance their educational concentrations. Award-winning faculty offer industry and academic perspective and equip each graduate with the tools needed to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. The Mechanical Engineering program at CSU includes majors in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering-Mechanical Engineering; both curricula combine classroom learning with engineering practice. Our goal is to give our graduates the engineering skills they need to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. Our students are integral members of our research groups, and their thesis and dissertation topics focus on cutting-edge research. Further information about the Department can be found at www.engr.colostate.edu/me/.

Position Summary

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, CO is seeking a Research Associate in Sustainability Analysis and Algal Experimentation. The selected individual will work with the Principal Investigator at CSU. The position is multi-faceted and will include the following:
• Sustainability modeling of algal systems
• Development of algal experimental systems in support of a recently funded DOE projects: algal turf and carbon utilization
• Supervision of undergraduate and graduate researchers
• Dissemination of results through peer review conference presentations and publications

Research: The research will focus on sustainability assessment and algal experimentation. Work will include integrating experimental data and other dynamic modeling work into the foundational integrated model..

Mentoring: The position includes mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students in collaboration with the PI. This includes working with graduate students to achieve not only research but professional development goals.

Dissemination: Journal articles, conference publications, and internal presentations will be generated and disseminated.

Required Job Qualifications
• MS in STEM field;
• Experience in algal experimental systems;
• Experience in LCA and TEA of algae systems;
• Demonstrated ability to present research at conferences; and
• Legally authorized to work in the US by the proposed start date.

Preferred Job Qualifications
• Experience with life cycle inventory data;
• Statistical and analytics background;
• Experimental data reduction skills; and
• Strong written communication skills.

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category
Research

Duty/Responsibility
• Sustainability modeling;
• Development of experimental systems;
• Collection of data and data reduction and evaluation of results; and
• Mentoring of undergraduate and graduate researchers.

Percentage Of Time
80%

Job Duty Category
Documentation & Reporting

Duty/Responsibility
• Write manuscripts to disseminate research findings; and
• Support grant proposal reporting and future submissions by compiling data and summarizing results.

Percentage Of Time
20%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, which addresses how education and professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume or CV, and the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Conditions of Employment
Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Search Contact
Jason Quinn, jason.Quinn@colostate.edu

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.