Faculty Research Assistant: Research Coordinator

Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon State University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month Faculty Research Assistant to coordinate a NOAA-funded project examining socio-cultural impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms in Puget Sound, WA and Southern California. The position requires residing in Corvallis, OR or Puget Sound and involves interdisciplinary collaboration with multiple PIs and a graduate student mentorship.

The role emphasizes developing research protocols, data collection and analysis, producing peer-reviewed

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in environmental social sciences with social scientific research methods experience
• Proficiency with geospatial statistical analysis
• Ability to learn quantitative and qualitative analyses with some support
• Knowledge of best practices in social scientific research
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication; collaborative mindset
• Computing skills including statistical software and cloud sharing
• Experience coordinating interdisciplinary science teams and stakeholders
• Commitment to inclusive excellence in environmental management

Responsibilities

• Act as project manager, organizing research team, providing work reports and managing project timelines and deliverables
• Develop research protocols, collect data and lead social-scientific data analysis
• Facilitate and support an advisory group to provide feedback on project implementation and outputs
• Lead outputs of project components, including at least one peer-reviewed manuscript and user-focused products
• Mentor one MS student to complete independent research projects as part of the overall project

Skills

Geospatial analysis

Social science research methods

Project management

Data analysis (qualitative)

Communication and collaboration

Professional writing

Statistical software

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Graduate degree in environmental social sciences

Tools

Geospatial software

Statistical software

Job description

Department

Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences

Special Instructions To Applicants

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

• A resume/CV; and
• A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For Additional Information Please Contact

Kelly Biedenweg

[e-mail]

206-883-5612

Job Summary

The Department of Fisheries & Wildlife & Conservation Sciences invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

The Conservation and Human Wellbeing Lab in the Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences Department seeks an interdisciplinary social science Faculty Research Assistant to coordinate a large project looking at Socio-Cultural impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Puget Sound, WA and Southern California. This is a 3-year project funded by NOAA. Applicants must reside in Corvallis, OR or the Puget Sound.

Harmful algal blooms can affect coastal communities through disruptions to fisheries, aquaculture, recreation, tourism, cultural practices, public health, and access to coastal resources. This multi-institutional project will examine how these effects are experienced and distributed across communities in Puget Sound, Washington, and the Santa Barbara Channel, California. The project combines surveys, interviews, focus groups, geospatial analysis, and analysis of digital and social-media data and will produce both peer-reviewed scholarship and practical, user-oriented resources for coastal communities and decision-makers.

Social Science. You Will

• Work collaboratively with three PIs based at different universitiesvto identify and implement steps for meeting project goals
• Develop research protocols, collect data and lead data analysis in the Puget Sound, Washington, including Hood Canal, Bellingham Bay, and Quartermaster Harbor. Methods will include geospatial analysis of existing datasets, public-beach encounter surveys, shoreline homeowner surveys and interviews, focus groups, and social media large data analyses.
• Lead outputs of project components, including at least one peer-reviewed manuscript as well as more creative, user-focused products
• Mentor one MS student to complete independent research projects as part of overall project
• Facilitate and support an advisory group to provide feedback on project implementation and outputs
• Act as project manager, organizing research team, providing work reports and managing project timelines and deliverables.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position classification, project objectives, and evolving research needs as identified by the PIs in consultation with the project team.

The Human Wellbeing and Conservation Lab (https://kellybiedenweg.weebly.com) is within the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences (https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu).

The Human Wellbeing and Conservation Lab is part of the Human Dimensions lab led by three faculty with about 19 lab members including an Instructor, Research Coordinators, and graduate students. We are a highly collaborative group that values inclusivity, curiosity, and mutual support in our learning spaces. Jointly, we also run the People and Nature seminar series and student workshops. https://Peopleandnatureosu.weebly.com

FWCS is an academic unit that reports to the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Department is composed of approximately 300 staff, including academic faculty, research assistants, classified staff, graduate students, and temporary staff. Over $8 million of externally funded grants and contracts are received each year in support of science focused on basic ecological research, conservation, and sustainable use of fish and wildlife and their habitats. The Department is the largest in the College of Agricultural Sciences, with over 40 professors and 1200 students in 8 degree and certificate programs, including one Bachelor of Science degree, five graduate degrees, and two graduate certificates. We are a vibrant department that promotes a supportive atmosphere for all students and employees.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as project manager, organizing research team, providing work reports and managing project timelines and deliverables.
• Develop research protocols, collect data and lead social-scientific data analysis.
• Facilitate and support an advisory group to provide feedback on project implementation and outputs.
• Lead outputs of project components, including at least one peer-reviewed manuscript as well as more creative, user-focused products.
• Mentor one MS student to complete independent research projects as part of overall project.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Graduate degree in environmental social sciences (geography, planning, psychology, anthropology, environmental studies, etc.) or related fields that included social scientific research methods, analyses, and products
• Proficiency with geospatial statistical analysis
• Proficiency in or capacity to quickly learn quantitative and qualitative analyses with some support (regressions, topic modeling, hierarchical clustering)
• Knowledge of best practices in social scientific research
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills
• Outstanding communication skills based in curiosity, self-awareness, and collaboration
• Computing skills, including statistical software & cloud-based file sharing
• Professional competence in coordinating and facilitating stakeholders and interdisciplinary science teams in a respectful and efficient manner
• Demonstrated proficiency in professional writing
• A demonstrable commitment to inclusive excellence in environmental management

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a large research program with multiple researchers and sub-projects
• Experience mentoring student researchers
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing peer-reviewed manuscripts and/or accessible white papers, reports, and other forms of visualization to communicate the role of social science in conservation/restoration to diverse audiences
• Experience with encounter surveys, focus groups, scientific interviewing, geographically-weighted regressions, and/or the use of AI for large data analyses (e.g., topic modeling)

Working Conditions/Schedule

Full time

Potential for hybrid

Must reside in Corvallis, OR or the Puget Sound, WA

Infrequent overnight travel for meetings, and occasional lengthier trips (up to 1 or 2 weeks) to oversee field work.

Salary Range

Salary is commensurate with skills, education and experience.

Anticipated Start Date

2026-09-07

Anticipated End Date

2027-06-30

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job‑related pre‑employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre‑employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [e-mail].