Research Scientist III - REACH CoLab

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: about 2 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 18 Mar 2024

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Research Scientist III - REACH CoLab
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202400290AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Resch Sci/Scholar III
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $135,000 - $175,000
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 04/01/2024
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 03/18/2024
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 (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, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 150 graduate students, MECH is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students understand technical concepts, and $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. The Mechanical Engineering program at CSU includes majors in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical 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 selected Research Scientist III will support the REACH Co-Lab Director by communicating and working with team members to manage and oversee laboratory operations. This will include:
  • Frequently meeting with graduate and undergraduate students to oversee student progress and ensure progress towards graduation is maintained;
  • Communicating and coordinating with REACH Co-Lab permanent research staff to ensure sponsor project commitments are met;
  • Develop and writing proposals, ensuring project deliverables are met, ensuring projects remain on budget;
  • Planning for laboratory growth in personnel, and ensuring a safe and effective laboratory environment; and
  • Communicating and coordinating with Powerhouse staff for the execution of research projects at the Powerhouse.


This position will also need to predict the performance of energy systems and to lead the design, construction, and performance evaluation of advanced energy systems. The 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, present results through peer reviewed publications, and oversee design, construction, and testing conducted for the REACH Co-Lab. This position can leverage modeling tools, web services, data, stakeholder relationships, and institutional knowledge created through this complementary work, and will be performed in strong collaboration with REACH Co-Lab staff.
This is 12-month full-time position with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and available funds.
Required Job Qualifications
  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university;
  • 7 years’ experience post PhD in a research environment;
  • Demonstrated ability to produce publications and/or technical documents;
  • Demonstrated skills in written communication; and
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by the start date. Mechanical Engineering will not provide visa sponsorship for this position. 
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • 10+ years’ experience post PhD in a research environment;
  • Demonstrated experience overseeing research operations, especially at the CSU Powerhouse Energy Campus;
  • Demonstrated ability to secure external research funding;
  • Demonstrated experience developing energy systems, especially process and/or thermal energy systems; 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
  • Work with REACH Co-Lab Director, Dr. Todd Bandhauer, to conduct innovative research to pursue new research ideas and perform experiments for concept validation;
  • Write proposals to government, industry, and other funding sources to secure funding for laboratory personnel, including the Senior Research Scientist;
  • Contribute data, plots, and writing for scholarly publications;
  • Investigate new ideas and concepts for energy systems; and
  • Present research findings (as requested) at conferences.
Percentage Of Time 40%
Job Duty Category Lab Operations
Duty/Responsibility
  • Communicate and coordinate with REACH Co-Lab permanent research staff to oversee student progress, develop and write proposals, ensure project deliverables are met, ensure projects remain on budget, plan for laboratory growth in personnel, and ensure a safe and effective laboratory environment;
  • 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;
  • Conduct computer simulations as needed for energy systems and components;
  • Conducting tours (as requested) for visitors to the laboratory and helping to provide informational posters and other materials to highlight lab capabilities;
  • Meet with graduate and undergraduate students to ensure progress towards graduation is maintained and sponsor project responsibilities are met; 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 Co-Lab;
  • Write disclosures for inventions developed in the REACH Co-Lab, and coordinate activities with CSU Strata; and
  • Participate in commercialization workshops and other similar activities to explore pathways to transitioning 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 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), Valid Driver’s License, Travel - 10%
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.

Similar Positions