Research Lead Technician - Hydrology and Water Quality

A Research Lead Technician position is available immediately in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University (OSU). This position is critical to CFAESs research and Extension mission. The work aligns with the CFAES mission to sustain life by protecting waters and ensuring sustainable food production in the region.

We seek to hire a motivated individual to support field, laboratory, and data synthesis research focused on hydrology and water quality in Ohios agricultural and urban landscapes. The individual will assist with tasks critical to carrying out research and education for funded projects, the Overholt Drainage Education and Research Program, the International Drainage Hall of Fame, and the International Program on Water Management in Agriculture.

The position will contribute to ongoing research and outreach projects funded through several federal, state, and non-governmental sources. The critical tasks include:

• FIELD/LAB WORK SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING: Coordinate and lead tasks related to collecting soil and water samples and maintaining monitoring equipment at fields sites near campus and other research locations in Ohio.
• FLEET MANAGEMENT: The AgWater team utilizes and shares access to a fleet of vehicles for field work. The position will coordinate the shared usage of the vehicles and be responsible for upkeep and maintenance of at least one program vehicle with assistance from other research staff.
• LABORATORY MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT: Coordinate and lead the upkeep and maintenance of all research spaces, laboratory, and research equipment/instrument inventory. Help analyze soil and water samples in laboratories using analytical techniques and instruments.
• LOGISTICAL SUPPORT: Help organize outreach events and meetings such as the Overholt Drainage School with tasks such as registration, catering management, lodging for key personnel, transportation, communications, designing promotional material, event surveys and evaluations. Similar tasks may need to be carried out for other training programs, international delegation visits, and exchange scholar visits.
• RESEARCH SUPPORT: Assist in research-related tasks such as data collection, software-based analysis and modeling, data corrections, data processing, report writing. Data management, archival and QA-QC is extremely important, and this position will be primarily responsible for ensuring the same with assistance from lower level research staff.
• DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUPERVISION: Supervise undergraduate student research assistants, lower level technicians, and similar staff from within the AgWater team. The position will be responsible for providing appropriate training to new team members, ensuring training/safety compliance, and task assignments.
• RECRUITMENT SUPPORT: The AgWater program is constantly evolving with constant need for hiring, evaluating applications, and conducting interviews. This position will be responsible for coordinating the hiring process for undergraduate student researchers and field research related staff positions.

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and work well independently, enjoy year-round fieldwork, and be capable of troubleshooting and fixing mechanical and electrical problems. The candidate will be responsible for managing long-term field research sites, which includes installing and maintaining hydrology/water quality monitoring instrumentation and equipment. This individual will work hand-in-hand with experienced research engineers and scientists within the team; and train other team members such as other technical staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students. Learning and professional development opportunities are available through OSUs Employee Assistance Program, Staff Benefits and program funds to support attendance of relevant conferences and training events.

The position will be located on the Columbus campus. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Vinayak Shedekar, Assistant Professor in Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The position will work within a large water-focused team of senior faculty, staff, and graduate/ undergraduate students within FABE.

Essential functions:

• Design and develop hydrology and water quality monitoring instrumentation solutions appropriate for specific field sites and project goals.
• Provide coordination, training, and leadership to a team of research staff, undergraduate and graduate students, visiting scholars that are involved in different field and laboratory research projects.
• Visit field sites and collect weekly or bi-weekly water samples, trouble-shooting and fixing issues associated with monitoring equipment.
• Plan field site visits, coordinate task assignments to other team members, and ensure the safety and compliance of all personnel.
• Conduct purchasing and procurement to obtain quotations/bids and secure purchases. This will involve fiscal reporting responsibilities and managing and maintaining an university-issued purchasing card.
• Help with the assembly and installation of field instrumentation for both short- and long-term observational studies.
• Ensure existing health and safety protocols and assist in developing new standard operating procedures for ensuring data quality, availability, and security. Carry out routine maintenance and calibration of climate and aquatic sensors according to standard operating procedures, periodic re-calibration of rating curves at surface water locations, and collect and prepare snow and water samples for biogeochemical analyses. Anticipate and provides solutions to non- routine issues.
• Provide logistical support to organize outreach and Extension events and stakeholder meetings.

Required Qualifications:

• 5 years of relevant experience required with High School diploma or GED, 3 years of relevant experience required with associate's degree, or 1 years of relevant experience required with bachelor's degree.
• A bachelors degree in science or engineering or equivalent experience
• 1 year of experience working on private or cooperative farms, on-farm agricultural research, water/wastewater-related monitoring programs through agencies or private industry, or any related fields that involve installation, use, and maintenance of soil/water monitoring equipment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors or masters degree or specialization in Hydrology, Environmental Sciences, Agricultural, Civil, or Environmental Engineering, Agricultural or Environmental Sciences, or another related field
• 2-5 years of experience in related field
• Technical experience working with hydrology/water quality field research - either climate monitoring and environmental data acquisition (e.g., use of Campbell Scientific data loggers) or hydrology and aquatic sensors (e.g., use of ISCO samplers, Flow measurement devices, YSI sondes).
• Practical knowledge of Ohio agriculture and agricultural practices. Familiarity with metadata standards and hydrologic data repositories. Experience in fieldwork and environmental measurements.
• Supervision experience and proven leadership/training experience of at least 3 months.
• Strong motivation and independence with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Required skills:

• Experience operating power tools and construction equipment.
• Basic knowledge of electrical systems and how to use a multi-meter. Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Ability to travel to remote field sites and work in inclement weather (rain, snow, etc.).

Preferred skills:

• Experience of setting up, troubleshooting, and installing hydrologic monitoring instruments including ISCO6712 samplers, water level loggers, AV sensors, soil moisture sensors, and portable weather stations
• Operating agricultural and construction equipment.
• Knowledge of load securement and comfort with driving large truck and trailer with equipment (no CDL needed) Prior experience with health and safety training and ability to train others
• Ability to use ArcGIS, MATLAB, Python, R, MS Excel, or other software for data processing.
• Ability to create maps using ArcGIS or other GIS software.

Working Conditions:

• Exposure to varying environmental conditions (e.g., heat, cold, freezing weather, standing water, rain, insects, poisonous plants).
• Laboratory work may involve handling chemicals and working in a controlled environment
• Frequent road travel to field sites such as agricultural farms, research plots, wetlands, reservoirs, natural ecosystems, and urban infrastructure.