RESEARCH COORDINATOR

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. 

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington seeks a Research Coordinator to perform research in optical fiber geophysics and environmental sensing.

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences leads world-class programs about our home planet and our solar system while emphasizing direct field and laboratory research and educational experiences. Our mission is to further the understanding of Earth, the solar system, and their histories. The Department’s scope extends from the center of Earth to the rim of the solar system, and its activities cut across traditional disciplines of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and mathematics. ESS faculty, students, and staff examine Earth’s interior structure, chemistry, motion, and dynamics; geologic hazards; processes affecting the surface environment; the surrounding space environment; planetary processes; and geobiology.

The Research Coordinator will support a portfolio of research projects at the UW FiberLab with the overarching goal of enabling new observations of earth, environmental, and planetary systems using optical fiber sensing systems. The individual filling this role will take on diverse tasks under the supervision of the FiberLab Director. Bachelor’s Degree and 2 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience required. Degree in geophysics or related field is required. Prior experience with managing large datasets in a shared Unix/Linux environment, experience organizing and carrying out complex instrumental fieldwork required, and/or experience in Distributed Acoustic Sensing or related optical fiber technologies is required; prior success with acquiring external grant support is desirable.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(25%) Develop, maintain, and manage FiberLab IT resources:

• Organize and ensure the long-term stability of 100 TB – 1 PB datasets by maintaining archival system (including cloud stores); implementing appropriate organizational schemes including metadata management
• Work with ESS IT to maintain the operating system and monitor health of UW FiberLab Computers
• Develop and carry out routine data quality control procedures
• Update and maintain FiberLab website; manage various FiberLab webservices

(25%) Provide fiscal and grant support:

• Contribute to budget and science text development for external grants
• Contribute to post-award grant reporting and related tasks
• Maintain up-to-date budget spreadsheets for internal use at the FiberLab

(25%) Broadly manage and participate in local, regional, national, and international fieldwork projects:

• Design, plan, prepare, and perform fieldwork
• Carry out shipping, receiving, international customs, and other field project cargo logistical activities
• Create detailed metadata an ancillary records of field deployments
• Provide guidance and recommendations for instrumentation and logistics questions
• Design, build, and integrate instrumentation (e.g. power supply for interrogators)
• Collaborate with international partners
• Ensure deployments are running smoothly when remote access is available

(25%) Manage FiberLab equipment and supplies:

• Procure new equipment, involving UW Procurement Services as needed
• Ensure functionality of instrumentation
• Develop standard operating procedures for equipment; develop lab policies
• Carry out instrument refurbishment
• Test instrument performance and compare with manufacturer specifications
• Handle firmware updates and other manufacturer recommended maintenance
• Manage fiber supply including building custom cable devices and optical fiber fusion splicing

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in geophysics, computational field, or a related field and two years of relevant experience OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

•  Prior experience managing large datasets in a shared Unix/Linux environment
•  Prior experience organization and carrying out complex instrumental fieldwork
•  Evidence of working effectively with a team.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

•  Four years of relevant experience
•  Prior experience using distributed acoustic sensing or related technologies.
•  Evidence of prior success with acquiring external grant support with NSF and/or NASA.
•  Ph.D. preferred

Prior experience with managing large datasets in a shared Unix/Linux environment, experience organizing and carrying out complex instrumental fieldwork required, and evidence of working effectively with a team are required. Prior experience using distributed acoustic sensing or related technologies; prior success with acquiring external grant support are desirable. Four years of relevant experience preferred. A Ph.D. degree is preferred.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: When you apply to this job there will be an assessment for your to fill out in it please do the following: Applicants are asked to submit a 1-page research statement which should include a summary of research interests, accomplishments, training and skills, and career objectives, and the names and contact information of three individuals who can serve as references.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your “My Jobs” page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.