Job Description

Position Summary:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering seeks a part-time hourly Research Assistant (student or non-student) to support the SOGES-funded ECO-FIRE project, which develops an integrated modeling framework to quantify the air quality, public health, and environmental equity trade-offs between wildfires and prescribed fires.

Full Consideration Date: 6/30/2026

Brief Work Unit Description:

https://www.engr.colostate.edu/me/

Essential Job Duties:

• Develop and evaluate optimized prescribed-fire ignition methods, techniques, and pattern designs in collaboration with project partners.

• Conduct smoke exposure analysis and investigate how ignition pattern design affects downwind smoke exposure outcomes.

• Develop and maintain Python-based data processing and analysis workflows, using high-performance computing resources where applicable, and document methods to ensure reproducibility.

• Prepare and draft a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Background Check.

• Authorized to legally work in the US by the planned start date.

Supervision:

None.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, environmental science, engineering, economics, or a related field.

• Proficiency in Python for data analysis (e.g., Pandas, NumPy).

• Experience with quantitative, optimization, or econometric methods.

• Strong written communication skills and the ability to contribute to scientific manuscript preparation.

• Minimum GPA of 3.0.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field.

• Experience with geospatial tools such as ArcGIS or QGIS.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

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• Review our detailed benefits information here.

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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.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.