Research Specialist: Institute for a Secure & Sustainable Environment - UTK

This position will report to one of the Water Center’s Assistant Professors and contribute to the TNWaterTA research program that provides technical support and training to small water and wastewater systems across the United States focusing mostly on work in Tennessee. The position will learn to use specialized knowledge of water/wastewater systems including transport and treatment processes, hydrology and hydraulics, and computational modeling to support the PI with completing project deliverables which will include the development and implementation of hydraulic analysis and asset management tools, training material, and assisting systems with their operations, analysis, and planning. The position will be expected to work alongside and collaborate with undergraduate research assistants on project tasks.

This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

• With direction and knowledge from the PI this role completes project tasks and deliverables. Tasks will include Geographic Information System (GIS) use and analysis, development and analysis of infrastructure asset management plans, development and implementation of hydraulic models, development of training materials, assist in creating trainings and webinars, national asset data management, and statistical analysis.
• Document progress toward project tasks and deliverables in regular progress reports.
• Collaborate with undergraduate research assistants on project tasks to assist with direction provided from the PI.
• Travel to assist utilities with project tasks and deliverables mentioned above.
• Contributes to scientific, peer-reviewed journal manuscripts by providing research result information such as providing information from the research results and progress to the PI.
• Assists with the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center's general operational needs including administrative tasks (procurement research for equipment, send emails to schedule undergrad interviews, and scheduling meetings), creating and assisting with implementation of training programs, and in support of other ongoing research projects that are part of the Center.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in any Engineering or Environmental Science related field

Experience:

• No initial experience required, however, internship experience will be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to communicate (both written and oral) for training, communication with research project sponsors, preparation of professional quality progress reports, and the preparation of academic journal articles.
• Ability to communicate (both written and oral) with rural utility staff.
• Good organizational skills for managing multiple projects' tasks and deliverables.
• Some knowledge of in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Knowledge and/or experience in hydraulics and hydrology, computational modeling, water and wastewater engineering, and database management.
• Technical writing, giving technical presentations, and managing time on multiple projects, tasks, and deliverables.
• Experience in hydraulics and hydrology, computational modeling, water and wastewater engineering, and database management.
• Consulting and or working in state or federal entities working with EPA.
• Experience managing multiple projects, tasks, and deliverables.
• Experience with GIS, EPANET, EPASWMM, python, and/or MATLAB.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Skilled in geographic information systems (GIS) software.
• Skilled in hydraulic modeling software (EPANET, EPASWMM).
• Skilled in writing computer code (VBA, python, MATLAB).

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: MR07
• Anticipated hiring range: $55-65k
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions: To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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