Research Associate

OSU Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life

OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and a

Tuition reduction benefits

Job summary

OSU Oregon State University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month Faculty Research Assistant in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. The RA will expand the USGS NCCV, analyze climate model data, and support the CASCs mission through data products and maps.

The role requires a PhD in a climate-related field, proficiency in Python/Matlab/IDLS/R, and experience with NetCDF; English fluency and collaboration with partners are essential.

Qualifications

• PhD required in climate science, Earth science, atmospheric science, or related field.
• Fluency in English and ability to communicate science to diverse audiences.
• Experience with climate assessments (IPCC AR6, NCA5, CMIP) and climate modeling.

Responsibilities

• Expand the NCCV web application’s scale and data layers.
• Analyze and visualize climate model data.
• Collaborate with the Climate Adaptation Technical Services (CATS) team and stakeholders.
• Provide climate projections and high-quality graphics for reports and public communications.
• Support independent research and data releases.

Skills

Python

Matlab

IDL

R

Education

Doctoral degree in climate science or related field

Tools

NetCDF

Job description

Department: College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Job Summary: The College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric 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 Dean.

Key Responsibilities

• Expand the scale and scope of the USGS National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV) web application.
• Analyze and visualize climate model data.
• Participate in activities of the Climate Adaptation Technical Services (CATS) team.
• Interact with partners and stakeholders.
• Independent research.
• The Research Associate (RA) will support the Climate Adaptation Technical Services program (CATS), which is part of the US Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). The program provides partners with tailored climate adaptation science, advice, and training to help them rapidly incorporate climate adaptation science into planning and decision making.
• The RA will serve as a climate data scientist to support the CATS mission by providing technical support that advances research on climate change, climate adaptation for natural and cultural resources of interest, and the effects of climate on species, ecosystems, and ecological processes.
• The RA will work with project principal investigators on the analysis of large-scale climate projections, development of new datasets, creation of data releases, documentation, and visualization of climate model projections for public communications.
• The initial focus will be on expanding the capabilities and data layers of the USGS National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV), which is a web application for visualization of climate model projections.
• The RA will work with CASC partners and stakeholders by providing climate projections in the form of custom analyses, extracting data, and producing high-quality maps and other scientific graphics to support assessments of the impacts of climate change on land management and species.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in climate science, Earth science, atmospheric science, or a related field.
• Knowledge of climate assessments and international climate modeling projects such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP).
• Understanding of climate models, climate model projections, and emissions scenarios.
• Proficiency in performing scientific data analysis in a programming language such as Python, Matlab, IDL, or R.
• Experience with climate model data formats, including but not limited to NetCDF data files.
• Experience creating high-quality scientific figures and maps.
• Ability to clearly communicate scientific concepts and results of analyses to a variety of audiences, including presentation of results at scientific conferences and meetings.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with researchers, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Must complete and pass a USGS background check.
• Must complete USGS computer security courses within 90 days of hire.
• Fluency in English.
• This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Climate Adaptation Science Centers, their partners, or other federal programs.
• Familiarity with climate impact reports, such as Species Status Assessments.
• Experience with scientific Python programming with the core geoscience libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Cartopy, xarray, Jupyter Notebooks).
• Knowledge of JavaScript programming.
• Familiarity with Linux-based operating systems or high-performance computing environments.

Working Conditions/Schedule

Work will be performed primarily in an office or similar setting with adequate light, ventilation, and climate controls. Travel for meetings and conferences may be required and may result in exposure to inclement weather and other common circumstances. Work is expected to be in person on the main Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon. Telework will be allowed prior to relocating to Corvallis, Oregon, and as needed and agreed on between the employee and supervisor after relocation. Most of the work will be sedentary, with extensive use of a computer as well as some moving about and lifting or moving of lightweight objects such as a laptop.

Salary Range

$75,000 - $85,000

Anticipated Start Date

2026-10-01

Equal Employment Opportunity and Background Check Information

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].

Locations

Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport. Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.

Total Rewards Package

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life.
• OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical care insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life.
• Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.

Non-Discrimination and Accommodations Statement

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. At Oregon State University, no qualified person shall, solely by reason of disability, be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the University. If requested, OSU will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants in order to provide access to the application, interviewing and selection process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application to receive an accommodation. Please request any reasonable accommodations for disability as early as possible in the application and search process. Requests may be directed to the hiring unit, or to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. See Request an Accommodation Procedures for the OSU policy.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

OSU’s Title IX Coordinator is the Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA). For information on OSU’s nondiscrimination policy and procedures, including how to report information about conduct that may constitute discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, contact EOA by phone: [phone], email: [e-mail], mail/location: 330 Snell Hall, Corvallis OR 97331, or visit EOA’s website: eoa.oregonstate.edu. Know Your Rights Oregon Family Leave Act: Department of Labor Family and Medical Leave Act: