Job Details

Methanogen Research Assistant

Position Number: 6759174
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Geology, Earth Sciences & Oceanography

Methanogen Research Assistant

Requisition Number: 68666
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Part Time
Posting Close Date: 03-Dec-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Research Assistant will contribute to a project investigating how intracellular, extracellular, and mineral-associated compartments enable methanogens to perform methane production under extremely carbon-limited conditions. The successful candidate will assist in the design and execution of laboratory experiments aimed at quantifying how these biological and geochemical interfaces influence and enable carbon flow during methanogenesis. Primary responsibilities include: cultivating methanogenic microorganisms under strict anaerobic conditions, setting up controlled, closed-system experiments in which all carbon inputs and outputs are quantitatively accounted for, quantifying methane production and dissolved inorganic carbon consumption using gas chromatography and Picarro cavity ring-down spectroscopy, measuring cell abundance via fluorescence microscopy and image-based cell counting, and performing geochemical and thermodynamic modeling of aqueous chemistry to evaluate carbon availability and energetic constraints on methanogenesis.
This position is well suited for candidates interested in geomicrobiology, biogeochemistry, astrobiology, or microbial physiology, particularly in extreme environments or sustainability-focused applications (e.g., carbon cycling and bioenergy). CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

Geology is a science concerned with the Earth - its relationship to the solar system, its origin and developmental history, its structure and composition, its dynamic processes, and its evolution. Geology also relates to human endeavors and needs, including the use of natural resources, the preservation of the environment, global change, and the mitigation of geologic hazards. The University of Colorado at Boulder is ideally suited to the study of geological sciences. At the junction of the high plains and the Rocky Mountains, the Boulder area represents a natural outdoor laboratory where you can study geological features of all ages in diverse settings, and observe earth processes firsthand. Fieldwork in the Rocky Mountain region is an essential part of instruction and research. The department considers the diverse opportunities for field studies in the high plains and central Rocky Mountains of Colorado a particular strength of its undergraduate programs. In addition, the department has research laboratories for studying rock and mineral deformation, soils, sedimentation, geomicrobial processes, petrology and mineralogy.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Work safely and aseptically with anaerobic microorganisms
Set up and monitor incubation experiments under diverse geochemical conditions
Characterize mineral, aqueous and gaseous reaction products
Characterize microbial cell abundances
Sensitively quantify microbial methane production rates
Aqueous geochemical modeling using programs such the R package CHNOSZ, EQ36 and Geochemist's Workbench

What We Can Offer

$22/hour for 24 hours/week, not to exceed 9 months.

Benefits

Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits-eligible, however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in Geological Sciences or Microbiology
1 year of experience working with anaerobic microorganisms in a lab
1 year of experience with geochemical modeling

What You Will Need

The responsibilities for this position require initiative, a research-oriented mindset, and a positive attitude towards problem solving.
Experience working safely and aseptically with anaerobic microorganisms
Experience working with hydrogen-utilizing microorganisms.
Experience working in controlled atmosphere chambers, as well as dealing with a variety of gas tanks, and mixtures.
Experience with quantitative gas chromatography and carbon isotope analysis via a Picarro instrument.
Experience with sterile techniques for anoxic fluid and gas sampling
Exposure to fluorescence microscopy
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Collaborative work ethic.
Ability to work independently as well as on a team.
Strong organizational skills.

Special Instructions

Please include the following application materials:

Cover letter
CV

During the application process you will need to enter contact information for a reference. We will request a letter of recommendation and additional materials, if needed, as the search progresses.
Review of applications will begin immediately and remain open until December 3rd, 2025. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Methanogen-Research-Assistant/68666