Job Details

Professional Scientist II

Position Number: 6767041
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Other Science

Professional Scientist II

Requisition Number: 68899
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 05-Dec-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking professional research assistant (PRA) to aid scientists in their research in conducting work on water supply. The candidate will work in a collaborative role with principal investigator(s) and contribute substantively to their project(s). The successful candidate will perform specific tasks assigned by the managing scientists such as data cleaning, database entry, manually masking cloud data and field work to confirm model information.
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

As the University's oldest institute, INSTAAR has a long history of responding to pressing environmental issues including climate change. Our traditional focus has been on alpine, Arctic, and Antarctic regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced. In recent decades, our research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales. INSTAAR's research activities integrate field studies, state-of-the-art laboratory experiments, sample analysis, and numerical and laboratory modeling. Our field sites are located across all seven continents and the world's oceans.

Our expertise across disciplines helps us generate influential science that can inform public and policy decisions and move us toward a more sustainable society. INSTAAR's national and international research leadership is augmented by exceptional strength in graduate education and bringing undergraduates into the research process.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The professional research assistant will assist research scientists at INSTAAR performing task(s) to support water supply information in the 17 western United States, with tasks and deadlines set by the supervisor.

What You Should Know

Start date: 1/1/2026; End date: 12/31/2026.
Position is contingent on continued funding from the Federal grants linked to the 2 speedtypes.

What We Can Offer

$65,000/year - $75,000/year

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 ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

10 years experience on backcountry skis with to the ability to navigate safely through avalanche terrain.
Avalanche Awareness course.
A bachelors of science in statistics; experience with ArcGIS manually masking clouds; experience obtaining radar data including synthetic aperture radar.
Experience digging snow pits and measuring snow depth. Database experience for data entry using Microsoft Access or PostgreSQL.

What You Will Need

Be able to work effectively with daily supervision; experience writing short articles for the public.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV
Cover Letter
A PDF Sample of Work (Evidence of previous Avalanche Awareness course)
Proof of Degree
Reference Letter (Not Confidential)

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until Monday, December 5 2025.

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/Professional-Scientist-II/68899