"Research Assistant I"

Research Assistant I

Company:
Dartmouth College

Job Location:

Category:
Laboratory and Research

Type:
Full-Time

Posting date
01/22/2026

Open Until Filled
Yes

Position Number
1128985

Hiring Range Minimum
$21.00

Hiring Range Maximum
$23.00

Union Type
Not a Union Position

SEIU Level
Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status
Non-Exempt

Employment Category
Regular Full Time w/end date

Scheduled Months per Year
12

Scheduled Hours per Week
40

Schedule
M-F, 8-5

Location of Position
Hanover, NH 03755

Remote Work Eligibility?
Onsite only

Is this a term position?
Yes

If yes, length of term in months.
12

Is this a grant funded position?
No

Position Purpose
Full-time Research Assistant for the Tumber-Dávila lab. The RA's duties (outlined in detail in the Key accountabilities) include: 1) lab management, 2) field work and research travel, 3) lab work and analysis, 4) lab group organization and logistics, and 5) record keeping. The lab uses field, lab, and computational approaches to better understand terrestrial ecosystems and global environmental change.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp
Bachelors or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Education

• Bachelors degree in relevant discipline (e.g. Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology)
• Course work or other educational training relevant to terrestrial ecology.

Minimum Experience

• 1 year experience in lab/fieldwork in an applicable terrestrial ecology setting (or the equivalent)
• Must have experience doing field work and laboratory analyses.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong professional communication skills and able to work collaboratively in teams.
• Strong organizational and time management skills and able to work independently.
• Ability to embrace challenges and troubleshoot when faced with setbacks.
• Eager to do physically demanding labor in a wildland field setting.
• Solid experience or interest in terrestrial ecological systems, particularly with plant, root, and soil ecology.
• Sufficient experience or ability to learn statistical data analysis and graphical presentations technique using R.
• Familiarity with running ecological field experiments/observations and laboratory analyses for plant and soil samples.
• Computer and computational skills. Familiarity with R, Excel, Word, Slack, GoogleDocs.
• Must be able to manage multiple projects/priorities and perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Must have clean driving record and valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Masters degree in relevant discipline (e.g. Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology)
• Training in field ecological research methods including soil sampling and forest inventory and plant observations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting research outside in the field.
• Experience working in a laboratory beyond lab sections of college classes.
• Experience working with chemistry protocols for environmental analyses.
• Previous experience working with soils and roots not necessary but preferred.
• Experience with plant identification and measurements.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries
Kim Wind

Department Contact Phone Number
603-646-2838

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title
Dr. Shersingh Joseph Tumber-Dávila

Department Contact's Phone Number
603-646-2838

Location of Position
Hanover, NH 03755

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?
Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants
This position is a 12-month term position.
Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Quick Link
https://searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/84448

Description

Lab management

• Assist with the purchase/setup of lab equipment and supplies and develop a streamlined organizational system for efficient collaborative use of research space.
• Coordinate research team work-flow including for experiments, online data and code repositories, compliance with lab and field safety protocols, training and coordination of student research assistants (graduate and undergraduate).
• Partner with other users of the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) and the Teaching Laboratory to ensure smooth functioning in these in coordination with Asst Professor Tumber-Dávila and other faculty and staff users in the Environmental Studies Department.
• Responsible for: daily management of lab activities, especially upkeep of lab space for order and cleanliness, regular maintenance of lab or field experiments; safe and orderly management of lab bench research on campus; ordering and maintaining inventories of research equipment, chemicals, preparing solutions and reagents, and other supplies.
• Adhere and ensure maintained compliance with laboratory safety requirements including general and chemical/hazardous waste safety disposal methods.

Percentage Of Time
20%

Field work and research travel

• Organize field trips and logistics.
• Collect air, soil, water, and plant samples from various terrestrial ecosystems following established protocols.
• Install and maintain field equipment.
• Maintain up-to-date field book recording all data collected and field activities performed.
• Help establish and maintain field experiments in a variety of settings.
• Requires travel to field sites in New England and beyond, such as local sites near Hanover (including the Dartmouth Organic Farm and Dartmouth Woodlands, Harvard Forest, The Second College Grant, and other field sites and experiments outside of New England often for extended periods of time.

Percentage Of Time
20%

Lab work and analysis

• Set up and perform soil, plant and root measurements using established and developed protocols under the guidance of the Principal Investigator.
• Perform analyses of carbon and nutrients in soils, plants, roots, and other environmental samples.
• Collaborate with the Principal Investigator in investigating and developing modifications to protocols/techniques, and document all new techniques developed in the laboratory.
• Collect and analyze data resulting from experimentation/analyses.
• Summarize results, makes graphs, and prepare progress reports for oral presentation at laboratory meetings.
• Conduct literature searches to assist in establishing new laboratory techniques and meta-analyses.
• Help with occasional side experiments and there will be opportunities to establish new research and side projects.
• Opportunity to prepare data graphics and other visuals for presentations, manuscripts, and reports.
• Opportunity to assist with literature searches and preparation of manuscripts and proposals.

Percentage Of Time
40%

Lab group organization and logistics

• Help organize and participate in regular lab meetings and help foster a lab culture of scientific excellence, creativity, collaboration, inclusion, and social responsibility.
• Help establish lab standards of conduct to foster community of diversity and inclusion.
• Coordinate research team work-flow such as team meetings, experimental planning and schedules, and work of student research assistants.
• Communicate regularly with students, faculty, staff, suppliers, and other parties.

Percentage Of Time
10%

Recordkeeping

• Take active role in: maintaining protocols for lab; developing and conducting standard operating procedures; collecting data, managing databases and basic statistical analyses; training and coordination of student research assistants.
• Help with the maintenance and creation of lab written and visual resources including the lab website, information for Dartmouth and external collaborators/sources, and project and personnel records.

Percentage Of Time
10%

• Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
• Performs other duties as assigned.