Research Scientist I or II - REACH Co-Lab

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 5 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 10 Apr 2023

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Research Scientist I or II - REACH Co-Lab
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202300467AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Resch Sci/Scholar II
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $80,000-$120,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) 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 permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date 07/01/2023
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 04/10/2023
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 Research, End Market, and Commercialization Hub (REACH) Co-Lab invites applications for a Research Scientist I (RS1) or Research Scientist II (RS2) position. The REACH Co-Lab, established in 2013, is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University and located at the Powerhouse Energy Campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. The REACH Co-Lab seeks to advance thermal-energy systems behond the current state-of-the-art.
The individual selected for this position will be assigned to one of two Research Scientist working titles based on education and experience. Specifically, an individual who recently received a PhD and has limited research experience (less than 3 years) will have a working title of Research Scientist I. An individual who has a PhD and 3 years or more research experience will have a working title of Research Scientist II. This is 12-month full-time position with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and available funds.
The selected Research Scientist will work collaboratively with team members to understand and predict the performance of thermal energy systems and to lead the design, construction, and performance evaluation of advanced thermal energy systems. Responsibilities will include working with academic and industrial partners to accurately characterize performance, evaluate the economics of the different solutions through techno-economic analysis, support experimental data analysis, publish results in peer reviewed publications, and oversee the execution of design, construction, and testing conducted in the REACH Co-Lab. The selected individual can leverage modeling tools, web services, data, stakeholder relationships, and institutional knowledge.
The Research Scientist will work in strong collaboration with Dr. Todd Bandhauer, the Director of the REACH Co-Lab, and will oversee and ultimately manage laboratory operations. The selected individual will work collaboratively with REACH Co-Lab permanent research staff and Powerhouse staff to ensure a safe and effective laboratory environment, develop and write proposals, ensure sponsored project deliverables are met, ensure projects are executed within budget, plan for laboratory growth in personnel, and meet frequently with graduate and undergraduate students to confirm progress towards graduation.
Required Job Qualifications
  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university by the proposed start date;
  • Experience using Engineering Equation Solver, Aspen Plus, MATLAB, or HTRI to predict the performance of energy system and components;
  • Demonstrated ability to produce journal publications and/or technical documents; and
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Demonstrated ability to secure extramural research funding;
  • Strong desire to work on environmental sustainability projects with humanitarian goals; and
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and 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
  • Investigate new ideas and concepts related to thermal energy systems;
  • Pursue new research ideas and conduct concept validation experiments;
  • Write proposals to government, industry, and other funding sources to secure research funding;
  • Document research and findings by writing scholarly publications; and
  • Present research findings at conferences.
Percentage Of Time 40%
Job Duty Category Lab Operations
Duty/Responsibility
  • Organize, manage, and maintain a safe and effective laboratory space;
  • Install and validate proper operation of new equipment;
  • Create posters and handouts to highlight lab capabilities, and conduct tours;
  • Conduct experiments for faculty, graduate students, and industrial partners;
  • Run computer simulations as needed for thermal energy systems and components;
  • Ensure students maintain progress towards graduation
  • Ensure sponsored project deliverables are met and projects are executed within budget; and
  • Support, as required, other Department’s/Program’s research labs.
Percentage Of Time 40%
Job Duty Category Commercialization
Duty/Responsibility
  • Conduct market assessments for potential commercialization pathways;
  • Write invention disclosures and coordinate with CSU Ventures; and
  • Participate in commercialization workshops and other similar activities to explore pathways to transition technology from the laboratory to the market.
Percentage Of Time 20%

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 required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume or CV, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License, Travel - 10%
Search Contact Todd Bandhauer, todd.bandhauer@colostate.edu
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, titleix@colostate.edu .
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, oeo@colostate.edu .
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, oeo@colostate.edu .
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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