Research Associate II / III - REACH CoLab

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 4 days ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 01 Apr 2024

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Research Associate II / III - REACH CoLab
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202400325AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Associate II
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $80,000-$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, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
  • For detailed benefit plan information for eligible employees, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ and https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/ .
  • For more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/ .
Desired Start Date 05/15/2024
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 04/01/2024
Description of Work Unit
As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University is a land-grant institution with an 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 $370 million in research funding every year, ranking second nationally in federal research funding for 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, Broadcom, AMD, Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman. Many of these are located in or near Fort Collins, contributing to the city’s dynamic economic landscape. 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 at Colorado State University (CSU) offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. The department is made up of 46 faculty members, 13 staff members, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 150 graduate students and is one of the largest on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and over $13M 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. 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.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse community that supports the Department’s education and research mission. We continue to increase diversity in our students, staff, and faculty and include teaching and engagement of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) into our curriculum. The new faculty member will be expected to contribute to our ongoing efforts, and candidates should demonstrate a commitment to service and promotion of DEIJ within our local and the broader scientific community. Further information about the department can be found at:www.engr.colostate.edu/me/ .
The critical nexus of energy research at CSU is the 100,000 sq ft Powerhouse Energy Campus, which includes the renown Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory and the laboratories of more than 25 PIs across many disciplines. The Powerhouse serves as the headquarters of the CSU Energy Institute and is one of the most extensive free-standing energy facilities at any university. The campus is a collaborative ecosystem of researchers, faculty, staff, students, and companies. It receives local, national, and global recognition for its interdisciplinary approach, and groundbreaking work on engine technology, electric grids, biofuels, energy access in the developing world, and energy focused entrepreneurship. Further information about the Powerhouse Energy Campus can be found at:https://energy.colostate.edu/powerhouse/ .
Position Summary
The Mechanical Engineering Department at Colorado State University is seeking a Research Associate II or III to support its REACH Co-Lab at the Powerhouse Energy Campus. In this role, the Research Associate will assist in innovative research by conducting experiments, creating computer simulations, and presenting at conferences, will assist in proposal preparation and report writing, and will assist with lab operations by installing equipment, ordering and organizing materials and supplies, and conducting tours.
The Research Associate will also facilitate commercialization of technology developed in the laboratory, write technical reports and scholarly publications to disseminate research conducted by the laboratory, execute technical engineering tasks, ensure safe operation of the laboratory, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the laboratory.
The individual selected for this position will be slotted into one of the following levels based on education and experience:
  • Research Associate II – Master of Science degree
  • Research Associate III – Master of Science degree + 2 years’ experience or PhD degree
Required Job Qualifications
  • Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university;
  • Relevant industry or academic experience in research laboratory;
  • Experience using hand tools and power tools for fabrication;
  • Experience with data analysis or interpretation;
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills; and
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the position start date; the department will not sponsor a visa for this position. 
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university;
  • Demonstrated ability to produce publications and technical documents;
  • Experience using Engineering Equation Solver and/or Aspen Plus to predict the performance of energy systems and components;
  • Experience using Solidworks or equivalent CAD software;
  • Experience fabricating complex energy systems or energy system testing facilities;
  • Experience preparing grant applications to government or private funding agencies;
  • Ability to work with various groups of people including students, faculty, staff, and other collaborators both within the University and external to the University; and
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple teams, projects, timelines, priorities, and budget.
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
  • Work with REACH CoLab Director and Staff to conduct innovative research to pursue new research ideas and perform experimentation for concept validation;
  • Conduct computer simulations as needed for thermal energy systems and components;
  • Lead and assist in proposal preparation to government, industry, and other funding sources to secure funding for laboratory personnel;
  • Contribute data, plots, and writing for scholarly publications;
  • Investigate new ideas and concepts, including those traditionally outside mechanical and chemical engineering disciplines; and
  • Assist when needed to present research findings at conferences.
Percentage Of Time 40%
Job Duty Category Lab Operations
Duty/Responsibility
  • Assist in conducting experiments in the REACH Co-lab for faculty, graduate students and industrial partners;
  • Install and validate the proper operation of new equipment as needed;
  • Ensure laboratory space is organized and professional;
  • Assist when needed in conducting tours for visitors to the laboratory and helping to provide informational posters and other materials to highlight lab capabilities; and
  • Assist when necessary to support other Department/Program’s research labs.
Percentage Of Time 40%
Job Duty Category Commercialization
Duty/Responsibility
  • Assist in conducting market assessments for potential commercialization pathways for technology developed in the REACH Colab;
  • Write disclosures for inventions developed in the REACH Co-lab, and coordinate activities with CSU Ventures; and
  • Participate in commercialization workshops and other similar activities to explore pathways to transitioning technology from the laboratory to the market.
Percentage Of Time 10%
Job Duty Category Mentoring
Duty/Responsibility
  • Work closely with Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) and researchers/analysts in partner organizations to ensure experimentation is conducted correctly and safely; and
  • Provide supervision of users of the laboratory to ensure safe operations. 
Percentage Of Time 10%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
People interested in this position 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. 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. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact Todd Bandhauer, [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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