Assistant Research Scientist
On-siteCollege Station, Texas, United States
Job Summary
Manage daily laboratory operations and organization for the trace metal clean room, including inventory, safety compliance, and personnel training. Lead or assist with oceanographic field expeditions to collect seawater samples, troubleshoot equipment, and prepare supplies for campaigns. Conduct trace metal analyses using wet chemistry and ICP-MS techniques, then analyze, interpret, and report data while ensuring quality control. Mentor students, contribute to scientific proposals and publications, and maintain research communication materials. This role involves 1-12 weeks of annual business travel and potential work beyond normal hours. Join the Fitzsimmons Group at Texas A&M University's Department of Oceanography to study ocean trace metal chemistry and marine biogeochemical processes.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Oceanography, Earth Science, or a related field
- Relevant professional experience with making geochemical analyses
- Relevant professional experience with taking shipboard sample collections at sea
- Ability to work outdoors exposed to various weather conditions
- Ability to work outdoors exposed to potential allergens
- Ability to work outdoors exposed to elevated noise levels
- Ability to work outdoors exposed to heat/cold
- Ability to move heavy objects with assistance
- Ability to drive a vehicle
- Ability to travel independently to other and/or remote locations for 1-12 weeks at a time
- Ability to travel independently by driving
- Ability to travel independently by flying on commercial airlines
- Ability to work beyond normal office hours
- Ability to work on weekends
- Ability to work outdoors exposed to various weather conditions, potential allergens, elevated noise levels, and heat/cold – for required shipboard fieldwork from the tropics to Antarctica
- Ability to move heavy objects with assistance – for lab organization and shipboard fieldwork
- Ability to drive a vehicle – for lab organization and fieldwork
- Ability to travel independently to other and/or remote locations for 1-12 weeks at a time by driving and/or flying on commercial airlines – for conferences and fieldwork
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative research environment
- Ability to work independently and maintain effective professional relationships
- Experience working in trace metal clean rooms
- Familiarity with shipboard collection of trace metal clean samples
- Knowledge of analyzing samples by plasma mass spectrometry
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience with trace metal, isotope, and speciation analyses
- Experience with oceanographic field sampling and laboratory instrumentation
- Experience mentoring students or research personnel
- Strong organizational, analytical, and scientific writing skills
- Advanced problem-solving skills
Desired Qualifications
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative research environment
- Ability to work independently and maintain effective professional relationships
- Experience working in trace metal clean rooms
- Familiarity with shipboard collection of trace metal clean samples and team leadership at sea
- Knowledge of analyzing samples by plasma mass spectrometry
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience with trace metal, isotope, and speciation analyses
- Experience with oceanographic field sampling and laboratory instrumentation
- Experience mentoring students or research personnel
- Strong organizational, analytical, and scientific writing skills
- Advanced problem-solving skills
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