Job Details

CIRES / Earth Lab Professional Research Assistant

Position Number: 7239839
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

CIRES / Earth Lab Professional Research Assistant

Requisition Number: 72630
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 17-Jun-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

Earth Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) seeks a full-time professional research assistant (PRA) to provide support for a project related to invasive plants, fuel structure and moisture, and the influence on fire regimes. The PRA will conduct field work to measure fuel moisture and structural characteristics of invasive species across the Great Plains to inform wildland fire fuel models. They will then use models to simulate fire activity in different seasons to characterize how and when invasive species might change fire regimes if they invade the eastern slope of the Colorado Front Range and the grasslands of Northeast Colorado. The professional research assistant will work with Dr. Chelsea Nagy and Dr. Alison Post at CU Boulder, as well as colleagues at USDA-ARS and the University of Illinois.
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

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

Earth Lab's mission is to harness the data revolution through research, analytics, and education to accelerate understanding of global environmental change to help society better manage and adapt. Research strengths of our group include invasive plants, wildfire, and global environmental change.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

(40%) Leading manuscript writing.
(20%) Planning, coordinating, and conducting field campaigns.
(20%) Integrating and analyzing existing and derived data sources.
(10%) Reporting: Tracking project milestones and deliverables and drafting project reports.
(10%) Organizing team meetings and collaboration efforts.

What You Should Know

This appointment is expected to last until 5/31/2028. An extension beyond that day may be possible.
The Associate Scientist will work in person at Earth Lab's main office on the CU Boulder campus in Boulder, CO. A hybrid work modality is possible, following CIRES and university guidelines and policies. This is not a fully remote position. The in-person experience and engagement with the Earth Lab community is a key aspect of this position.
The field season will run from Apr-Oct, requiring 1-4 days in the field each week.
Visa sponsorship is not offered for this role. Candidates who may require visa sponsorship now or in the future or who are working in the U.S through a visa or a working permit, are not eligible for hire in this role.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
The annual hiring salary for this position ranges from $67,000 - $78,750. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
Relocation is not offered with this position.
This position can accommodate a hybrid work modality.
CIRES and the University of Colorado boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development, and a Mentorship Program.
Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues.
As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be daring. Be willing. Be Boulder.

What We Require

A master's degree in ecology, environmental sciences, natural resources, or a related field is required.
At least 3 years of experience leading field campaigns and managing field crews working in a wilderness setting.
Experience with simultaneous management of multiple projects.
Experience with data integration, analysis, and visualization.
Experience with project management tasks, including organizing meetings, hiring, tracking achievements, reporting, and meeting deadlines.
Experience authoring scientific manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals.

What You Will Need

Proficiency (5+ years of experience) in R and/or python programming languages for ecological research.
Demonstrated ability to create high quality figures for scientific presentations and publications.
Familiarity with collaboration software (e.g., Google docs and sheets, Asana, Slack).
Attention to detail.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Special Instructions

To apply please submit the following materials with your application:

Resume or CV.
Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
Although not needed at the time of application, if you are identified as a finalist for the role, the hiring committee will request professional references at a later time.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Please apply by June 17, 2026 for consideration

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/CIRES-Earth-Lab-Professional-Research-Assistant/72630