Research Specialist or Senior Research Specialist

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bolton Landing, NY

Closing Date: Until Filled

Web Address: https://rpi.app.box.com/s/sahjqgva99mdz5xk0rw6gwuq119x3rq4

Description

Title: Research Specialist or Senior Research Specialist
Description: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is seeking to hire a motivated full-time Research Specialist
or Senior Research Specialist working on The Jefferson Project at Lake George. The Jefferson Project is a
multi-disciplinary collaboration founded as a partnership between RPI, IBM, and the Lake George
Association that brings a sophisticated technological approach to studying freshwater ecosystems. A
central goal of the Project is to understand the impact of human activity on fresh water and how to
mitigate those effects. This full-time position will be based out of RPI’s Darrin Freshwater Institute in
Bolton Landing, New York, on the shore of Lake George, with occasional responsibilities on campus in
Troy, NY. This position will provide multi-disciplinary support to multiple aspects of the Project, including
maintaining a network of sensors on and around the Lake George, conducting sampling surveys,
assisting with research activities, and traveling to other lakes and field sites in the region.
Duties:
• Calibrate, deploy, and maintain environmental sensors as part of a sophisticated sensor network
on Lake George and assist with sensor deployments on other lakes
• Monitor data streams and respond to issues quickly
• Master the operation of proprietary Jefferson Project sensor platforms on and around the lake
• Conduct field surveys using standard limnological and hydrological field equipment on both
lakes and streams
• Maintain accurate records and conform to data management standards
• Contribute to data QA/QC and data management efforts for large, environmental datasets using
open-source programming tools (Python, R)
• Assist with research activities such as data analysis, reporting, and manuscript preparation
• Assist with laboratory analyses of water samples as needed
• Occasional travel to other lakes as well as meetings and conferences
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in ecology, biology, environmental science/engineering, or a
related discipline.
Experience/skills desired:
• Experience calibrating and deploying environmental sensors and equipment (e.g., water quality
sondes, weather stations, vertical profilers, automated samplers, sensor buoys, etc.)
• Experience troubleshooting sensors and associated monitoring station hardware (e.g., single-
board computers, microcontrollers, PLCs, cellular gateways, dataloggers) and software (e.g.,
python code, datalogger code)
• Programming experience in one or more programming languages (Python, R, Java, JavaScript, C,
etc.)
• Experience working with Linux command line interface preferred
• Experience conducting field work in lakes and streams
• Experience with data analysis, visualization, and common statistical approaches
• Some experience with small electronics/basic wiring and knowledge of basic electrical
engineering principles
• Basic water chemistry and/or ecology laboratory experience
• Knowledge of boat safety as well as some operating/trailering experience
• A willingness to troubleshoot and address complex problems in the field and in the lab
• Ability to work outdoors in challenging conditions
Start date: Preferred start Fall/Winter 2026.
To apply: Apply at https://careers.rpi.edu/jobs/energy-environment-and-sustainability-researchers-
troy-ny-new-york-united-states-3dac8110-516c-4c94-b8e7-b55d4cba3465.
Review of applications will begin September 14, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Questions: Please email Mark Lucius at lucium@rpi.edu with questions. Please see https://dfwi.rpi.edu/
for more information on the Darrin Freshwater Institute.
The position comes with a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, including health insurance,
paid time off, and retirement benefits. The pay range for Research Specialists is $18.00 to $26.55
USD/hour; the pay range for Senior Research Specialists is $62,354-$66,000 USD/year. The title
(Research Specialist versus Senior Research Specialist) and salary offered will depend on the skills and
experience of the applicant.