Job opening: Student Research Assistantship in Carbon Life Cycle Analysis

Applications due by Monday, September 8, 2025, at 8 am (Pacific)

The Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt has multiple openings for undergraduate or graduate Student Research Assistants (SRAs) to join our carbon life cycle analysis team on a project to evaluate carbon flows and impacts from burning forest residue (slash) piles.

Positions are available for the Fall of 2025 (~September – December) and Spring of 2026 (~February – June). The exact start and end dates for each position will be established in discussion with the selected candidates. We plan to host a first round of hiring in Fall 2025, and host a second hiring round for Spring 2026.

Eligible applicants must be students in good academic standing at Cal Poly Humboldt who are registered for at least 6.0 units as an undergraduate student or 4.0 units as a graduate student.

About the Project

Project Title: Controlled burning of forest slash piles: tracking emissions and carbon flows

In modeling forest residue utilization pathways and climate impacts, we’ve found that the amount and type of material left over after burning is a key source of uncertainty that hasn’t been adequately studied. The project will aim to: (1) quantify the portion of the initial carbon still remaining on the ground after a pile burn, (2) characterize the material properties of the residual carbon in order to estimate its resistance to decay (recalcitrance), and (3) estimate the amount of carbon that was released from the soil.

Position Summary

SRAs will support the goals of this project through efforts in planning, conducting fieldwork, data entry, and lab analysis. The work will include surveying (unburned) piles in recently managed forests, which will include taking measurements and recording additional characteristics of the piles in order to quantify the amount of material in the piles (including their location, and various qualitative estimates and descriptions). After the piles are burned in the winter, the same piles will be visited again in the Spring to measure remaining material (quantity and other characteristics) and to collect residual material and soil samples for lab analysis.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Eligible applicants must be students in good academic standing at Cal Poly Humboldt who are registered for at least 6.0 units as an undergraduate student or 4.0 units as a graduate student
Prior experience or coursework involving field and/or lab work
Prior education and/or coursework in STEM related fields

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Strong attention to detail and ability to closely follow written and verbal instructions
Ability to communicate effectively in written and interpersonal contexts
Comfortable with physical labor, including lifting up to 40 lbs (for the field positions)
Comfort with or willingness to learn use of tools such as chainsaws or hand saws for field-based sample collection (for the field positions)
Comfortable being in remote field locations (for the field positions)
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word
Ability and willingness to work with and learn from others effectively in a team setting
Ability to self-motivate and follow through on assignments
Interest and enthusiasm for issues related to science and the environment

Desirable experience or training

(The following are welcome, but they are not required to be eligible for the position.)

Experience and/or coursework GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS or QGIS)
Experience using maps, GPS, or other survey equipment
Experience and/or coursework using R, Python, or other coding language
Experience using a bomb calorimeter or other lab equipment for material elemental analysis
Valid drivers license
Drone pilot license

Important note: This vacancy announcement includes both (a) minimum qualifications as well as (b) desirable experience or training. Research shows that many women and people of color, in particular, feel that they have to have 100% of both required and desired skills and experience before applying for a new job. We want to reiterate that the desirable experience and training options listed above are not required to apply for a position on our team. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation

These positions are non-benefited hourly positions with variable workload ranging from 5-20 hours per week, depending on the role and project needs. Field work and lab work will not be evenly spread out over the semester and will require most hours completed within a several-week window (especially for the fall field crew, which will mainly work between September 15-November 15). The wage is $16.50-$23.00 per hour. After 90 days of employment, SRAs become eligible for 40 hours of sick leave per calendar year.

How to apply

Deadline

All application materials must be received by Monday, September 8, 2025, at 8 am (Pacific)

Materials

Download the full job announcement

Applicants must submit the following via email to schatzenergy@humboldt.edu:

In your email subject line, include your full name and the project title.
A formal letter of application (cover letter), attention: Schatz Center Hiring Committee, that,
1. Describes your background and what motivates you to apply.
2. Addresses your experience with the qualifications described above and provides examples of experience, including descriptions of any relevant work/volunteer experience and/or a listing/description of relevant college/university courses successfully completed.
A resume (2 page maximum).

Note: Your cover letter will be used as a writing sample to assess the quality of your writing.

Questions and inquiries

For assistance with the application process, please submit an Accommodation Request Form, or contact the campus ADA Coordinator at (707) 826-3626 or confidential fax at (707) 826-3625. For more information regarding accommodation, you may also visit the Cal Poly Humboldt Campus Disability Resource Center. Individuals in need of a telecommunications relay service may contact the California Relay Service at (877) 735-2929 TTY.
Learn more about our employment opportunities at schatzcenter.org/jobs.
For additional information, please email schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or call (707) 826-4345.