Job Details

Staff Research Associate 4 - Civil and Environmental Engineering

Position Number: 6159506
Location: Reno, NV
Position Type: Engineering - Civil and Environmental

Staff Research Associate 4 - Civil and Environmental Engineering

R0147114
University of Nevada, Reno - Main Campus

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778.

Job Description

The University of Nevada, Reno is seeking a highly organized Staff Research Associate 4 to support the Civil and Environmental Engineering team within the College of Engineering. This pivotal role will oversee daily laboratory operations, manage equipment procurement, and ensure the smooth and safe functioning of all lab spaces. Key responsibilities include supervising lab activities, maintaining high standards for quality assurance, and supporting faculty in training students, graduate assistants, and technical staff. The ideal candidate will play a crucial part in fostering an efficient, collaborative, and safety-focused research and learning environment.

Duties include (but are not limited to):

Procuring and maintaining lab equipment, apparatus, and supplies used by students and other researchers.
Managing lab accounts and coordinating budget revisions with faculty and administrative staff.
Maintaining and repairing lab instruments used by students, researchers, and faculty, while ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Overseeing day-to-day lab operations, including EHS safety compliance and maintaining student safety training records.
Preparing lab materials, reagents, and equipment for experiments and assisting with the teaching of lab classes.
Conducting daily inspections and maintenance of lab apparatus and supplies, ensuring readiness before classes.
Collaborating with lab instructors to determine necessary supplies and chemicals prior to each semester.
Ensuring proper documentation of lab safety rules, inventory management, and cleanliness of lab spaces.
Maintaining quality control by reviewing lab data, verifying and calibrating instruments, and certifying lab methods and procedures.

Join us in shaping the future of engineering research and education through exceptional lab management and operational support.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the required area of specialization and three (3) years of professional research experience either in the field or in a laboratory to include experience coordinating research activities and making original contributions to research design, protocols and processes; OR
One (1) year of experience as a Staff Research Associate III in Nevada State service; OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Pursuant to NRS 284.4066, this position has been identified as affecting public safety. Persons offered employment in this position must submit to a pre-employment screening for controlled substances.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with knowledge and experience of the following are encouraged to apply.

Working with water, wastewater, sludge samples, and chemicals, including testing, waste management, inventory, preparation, and storage.
Strong knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, environmental engineering/science, laboratory safety procedures and chemical hygiene policies.
Ability to requisition and purchase chemicals, supplies, and equipment for a laboratory.
Ability to work collaboratively with undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

Schedule

The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; this is subject to change based on organizational needs.

Compensation Grade

Grade 35 (Entry, Step 01 $30.85/hr. - Step 03 $33.66/hr.)

In classified service, salary is in Grade and Step. The Step is determined based on the Nevada Administrative Code. Salary placement above a Step 01 at initial appointment is determined based on the recruitment, the candidate's qualifications, internal equity and budgets. A request to accelerate salary must be approved by Human Resources and abide by the Nevada Administrative Code.

To view the classified compensation schedules, please visit: Classified Compensation. Select Salary schedule, PP01.

For more information, visit the Classified Salary Calculator

Perks of PERS

Classified Employees are enrolled in The Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada (PERS) upon hire. The PERS retirement plan is beyond compare. Please visit the Benefit Estimator Retirement Calculator for more information.

"I'm so thankful that I followed the path that lead me to a PERS retirement. I was able to retire at age 60 with a paycheck close to my full salary. I watched the solid performance of PERS funds for 25 years. Even in times of a poor economy, PERS kept it together! I'm completely secure and confident that my retirement will always be there for me." - Robin F.

Perks of Working at UNR

Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
Life insurance, generous annual and sick leave - Classified Benefits
E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
Staff Employees' Council (SEC) represents all Classified employees. SEC holds monthly meetings to provide a forum for employees to participate. SEC

Classified Staff Grants-In-Aid Benefit

For more information about the Classified Staff Grant-In-Aid Benefit, please visit: Classified Staff Grant-In-Aid Benefit

Classified Employee Family Opportunity Program

Additionally, we offer a Classified Employee Family Opportunity Program for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of classified employees (working at least a 50% full-time equivalent). For more information, please visit: Classified Employee Family Opportunity Program

About the Department

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) is a research-active department with over 550 B.S., M.S., and PhD students, 21 tenured/tenure-track faculty, six research faculty and various technical staff. The department offers ABET-accredited B.S. degree programs in both Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, and graduate programs in five sub-disciplines that are nationally ranked by US News and World Report. In 2023 the department had annual research expenditures of over $9 million funded by external grants. It actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its programs and activities.

For more information: http://www.unr.edu/cee/

College and University Information

The College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno values its faculty and staff as vital to our mission of excellence in education, research, and community engagement. We seek team members aligned with our goals to serve Nevada, the nation, and the world by:

Delivering cutting-edge education
Advancing high-impact research
Promoting outreach and inclusivity

In 2023, our Engineering Research Office supported $33 million in research awards. We offer extensive resources and professional development to ensure faculty and staff success.

Our five departments-Chemical & Materials, Civil & Environmental, Computer Science, Electrical & Biomedical, and Mechanical Engineering-offer diverse degrees and focus on innovative research.

These centers support advanced research and collaboration with industry partners. Specialized facilities include:

Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research (CCEER)
Cybersecurity Center
Davidson Foundation Cleanroom
Nevada Water Innovation Institute
SOLARIS University Transportation Center

Located near the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center and Nevada UAS Test Site, the College is positioned at the heart of a growing tech and manufacturing hub with strong ties to companies like Tesla, Google, and Panasonic. Nevada is also a leader in aerospace, battery tech, water innovation, and sustainable energy. Learn more at unr.edu/engineering.

Contact Information

David Hanigan at dhanigan@unr.edu

Exempt
No

Full-Time Equivalent
100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu.

Attach the following attachment(s) to your application

Resume/CV - (required) List a detailed description of the major duties that you performed as part of each job. You must demonstrate that you qualify for the position and your education and experience must be clearly documented.

Cover Letter - (optional)

Contact Information for Three Supervisory References - (required) Please make a note if you do not want your present employer contacted unless necessary to determine your qualifications for the position.

Transcripts - (optional) If you have not graduated, please attach your transcripts to receive education credit for classes you have taken. Credit is given for classes relevant to the position.

Veteran Interview Consideration - (optional) - To receive interview consideration for veterans and veterans with a service-connected disability, proof is required at the time of application. Please attach proof electronically to your application under the Veteran Document(s) section. (Examples of acceptable documents include DD-214, disability letter from Veteran's Administration, etc).

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Lists of eligible candidates will be established and hiring may occur early in the recruiting process. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member's first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person's age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada's original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 ("Very High Research") university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the "Best National Universities" and "Best National Public Universities." It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times' "Top Colleges for Economic Diversity."

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada's first medical school - the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University's physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as "University Village," to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google's TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada - led by the University of Nevada, Reno - was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada's Tech Hub will strengthen America's lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that's transforming Nevada's communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students' cognitive growth and academic achievement - all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University's website.

University of Nevada, Reno

To apply, visit https://nshe.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UNR-external/job/University-of-Nevada-Reno---Main-Campus/Staff-Research-Associate-4---Civil-and-Environmental-Engineering_R0147114?workerSubType=dddb2e55fbdf014cc806bd19c034ed08&workerSubType=dddb2e55fbdf011e7533c019c034ee08&workerSubType=dddb2e55fbdf0125f832c319c034ef08

Founded in 1874, the University of Nevada, Reno is the State of Nevadas land grant institution with a statewide mission and presence. The University of Nevada, Reno is a Carnegie I Research Institution and has been recognized as a "Top Tier" Best National University by U.S. News & World Report. With an enrollment of nearly 21,000 students we offer 145 Tier 1 accredited degree programs. Located in the picturesque Truckee Meadows the University of Nevada, Reno is surrounded by numerous state and national parks, is 45 minutes from beautiful Lake Tahoe, and four hours from San Francisco.

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. We are an inclusive and engaged community and recognize the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a persons age, disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race, or religion.