Research Assistant, NSF Methane Cycle (Student)

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

The research assistant will support data analysis for an NSF-funded project on the role of trees in the global methane cycle at American University. Working with R and R Studio, you will clean a large methane emissions dataset, estimate missing values, and quantify how fluxes vary in time and space.

You will contribute to figures, tables, and text for a scientific manuscript, and meet weekly with project leaders. This is a part-time student position at 5 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Meet weekly with Karen Knee and Betty Malloy to discuss progress and update goals.
• Clean up data set to remove points that result from measurement error and estimate missing values.
• Create graphs and tables using R and R studio to visualize the data.
• Use statistical and data analysis methods to characterize how tree gas fluxes vary in time (different months of the year) and space (different trees and height on tree stem).
• Use point measurements to generate plot- and forest-scale gas flux estimates.
• Generate figures, tables, and text for a scientific publication.

Job description

Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community.

This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid.

Important guidance for current American University employees:

American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.

Department:

College of Arts & Sciences

Time Type:

Part time

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Job Description:

Summary:

The research assistant will assist with data analysis related to an NSF-funded project on understanding the role of trees in the global methane cycle. Specifically, they will use R to clean up a large data set of methane emissions from bald cypress trees, estimate missing values, determine how methane fluxes vary in time and space, and extrapolate point measurements to an entire forest plot. The research assistant will also be involved in creating figures and tables and writing text for a scientific manuscript arising from this research.

Essential Functions:

• Meet weekly with Karen Knee and Betty Malloy to discuss progress and update goals.
• Clean up data set to remove points that result from measurement error and estimate missing values.
• Create graphs and tables using R and R studio to visualize the data.
• Use statistical and data analysis methods to characterize how tree gas fluxes vary in time (different months of the year) and space (different trees and height on tree stem).
• Use point measurements to generate plot- and forest-scale gas flux estimates.
• Generate figures, tables, and text for a scientific publication.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Part-time.
• 5 hours per week.

Salary Range:

• $18.40 per hour.

Other Details

• This position is available only to enrolled American University students.
• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• American University is an E-Verify employer.
• Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

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