Research Associate I / II - Indoor Environment

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 10 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 12 Jun 2023

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Research Associate I / II - Indoor Environment
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202300932AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Associate I
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $55,000-$80,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for eligible employees in the following University benefit areas:https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ and https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ . To see the value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, visit our compensation calculator – https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 06/12/2023
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 33,000 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. Colorado’s Front Range is 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.
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 city offers a pleasant climate with 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 (ME) at CSU offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. Made up of 44 faculty members, 12 staff members, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 125 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 $11M in annual research funding 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 curriculum combine classroom learning with engineering practice. The Department recently added specialties for Aerospace Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, offering undergraduate concentrations, a graduate certificate, a Master of Engineering (M.E.) with specialization, and a Master of Science (M.S.) with a specialized master’s thesis. 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 Bond Research Group in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Colorado State University seeks a Research Associate to support projects that improve indoor environmental quality and human health. The Bond Research group investigates systems that integrate humans, energy, built environment, and natural environment, and the Associate will become part of a team that combines investigators in engineering and social science. The successful candidate will work with faculty, research scientists and graduate students on laboratory measurements, managing and analyzing data sets, ensuring quality, and conducting measurements in field (in-use) settings.
This position supports laboratory and field operations of practical projects that improve environment and well-being in homes and other indoor environments. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in an engineering laboratory with hand and power tools, and able to build and operate experimental apparatus designed in conjunction with faculty and students. This individual will be able to follow written procedures and document their activities to maintain quality. Skills in data cleaning and analysis using R, Stata, or Python are desirable, as is the ability to contribute to project reporting by summarizing procedures and findings in both written prose and graphics. Intermittent, but sometimes intensive, travel may be necessary when field projects are underway.
The individual selected for this position will be assigned the title of Research Associate I or Research Associate II based on education and experience. Specifically,
  • Research Associate I – Bachelor degree and less than 3 years professional post-baccalaureate experience
  • Research Associate II – Bachelor degree and three years or more professional post-baccalaureate experience or Master degree and no other significant professional experience.


Starting salary is based on qualifications and experience.
This position is a one-year appointment with the option to continue based on performance and funding.
Required Job Qualifications
  • Research Associate I – Bachelor degree and less than 3 years professional post-baccalaureate experience
  • Research Associate II – Bachelor degree and three years or more professional post-baccalaureate experience or Master degree and no other significant professional experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to act independently to achieve defined goals;
  • Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate technical information clearly; and
  • Experience with data analysis using R, Python, Stata, or another common program.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Education and experience in Environmental Science, Building Science, and / or Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC);
  • Experience with laboratory procedures for chemical and electrical safety;
  • Experience with analytical instrumentation;
  • Experience leading data management and analysis procedures;
  • Demonstrated ability to work within teams with differing skill levels; and
  • Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities.
Diversity Statement
Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Research
Duty/Responsibility
  • Design experimental equipment to achieve specifications;
  • Perform experiments and document results in both laboratory and field settings;
  • Perform quality control on data generated through experiments;
  • Analyze data sets to explore hypotheses and draw inferences; and
  • Contribute data, graphics, and text for scholarly publications and funding proposals.
Percentage Of Time 70%
Job Duty Category Laboratory Operations
Duty/Responsibility
  • Assist in purchasing supplies and equipment;
  • Ensure laboratory space is organized and professional; and
  • Describe and promote research operations to visitors and collaborators.
Percentage Of Time 15%
Job Duty Category Mentoring
Duty/Responsibility
  • Work closely with Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants to ensure experimentation is conducted correctly and safely; and
  • Provide supervision of laboratory users to ensure safe operations.
Percentage Of Time 15%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Travel
Search Contact Tami Bond, [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
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.

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