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Only applications submitted through the NMSU jobs portal will be considered.The link to apply is here: http://careers.nmsu.edu/cw/en-us/job/501353

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking a Research Scientist Assc. position to serve as a community liaison who will collaborate with agricultural communities to develop and assess alternative regional water management strategies in the face of drought. The selected individual with expertise in water management, community and regional planning, geography, and/or hydrology will contribute to advancing the science needed to identify pathways to agricultural and water resilience.

The Research Scientist Assc. will work closely with the team and communities with primary responsibilities to co-develop alternative water management strategies and characterize the combination of strategies to achieve community-defined resilience, participate in the needs and capacity assessment for agricultural stakeholders of the region, and collect data on regional conditions.

These responsibilities include assisting and collaborating with the team and taking leadership of some or all of the following components of the work:

Leading the development of the overall analysis and managing the project grant timeline of the deliverables; collaborating with community members to develop alternative water management scenarios; designing a plan with the team and collecting information to apply analytical techniques to characterize the existing regional collaborations and potential pathways and support needed to identify and implement alternative scenarios; performing analyses and syntheses of ethnographic interviews and focus group content conducted by a postdoc member of the team; guiding the modeling team to understand the findings so that they may be incorporated into the project models; helping to develop visualization tools to assist in understanding the process and analysis.

Performing specialized research in one area of the project relevant across all sites; developing a social network analysis to understand existing and potential social structures and collaboration; conducting spatial ecological analysis, particularly the ability to process and analyze geospatial data in ArcMap and/or ArcPro; compiling and verifying data; maintaining basic metadata; making maps; and working with remote sensing data.

Assessing the effects of alternative strategies on the major water budget components using water budget analysis and creating a hydrologic model accessing the effects of the alternative strategies on surface flows, inundation, and sediment transport.

Mentor and supervise graduate students.

Publish results in peer-reviewed academic journals and develop materials for reports and presentations to provide project results to partners and stakeholders.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of current technological developments/trends in area of expertise
• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering, scientific, and/or mathematical concepts and theories in area of specialty
• Knowledge of contracts and grants preparation and management
• Knowledge of engineering and/or scientific research principles, practices, and protocols
• Knowledge of research methodology, principles, and procedures

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Skill in educating others in research methods and techniques n area of expertise

Abilities:

• Ability to utilize advanced computer statistical and technical applications
• Ability to use independent judgment to adapt and modify research concepts and approaches to specific projects
• Ability to provide technical guidance and leadership to professional personnel in area of expertise
• Ability to develop and deliver presentations
• Ability to develop scientific reports and manuscripts based on original research
• Ability to utilize and maintain advanced scientific equipment and facilities
• Ability to utilize advanced analytical techniques and programs to develop scientific models

Requirements for the Position:

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field

Experience: Five (5) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined

Preferred Qualifications:

• Must be able to obtain an NMSU driving permit within 30 days of employment
• Must be able to travel occasionally to field sites to install and/or troubleshoot equipment
• Work a standard schedule of hours between Monday-Friday, 8-5 (occasionally may change slightly depending on business needs)