Overview

Working Title Project Manager
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202101376AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Associate II
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $40,000 – $43,500
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/.
Desired Start Date 12/20/2021
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 11/28/2021
Description of Work Unit
The Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit enhances graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences, and facilitates research among cooperators and partners including Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U. S. Geological Survey, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Research conducted by the Unit involves graduate and post-doctoral education and technical assistance to our Cooperators to understand and manage fish and wildlife resources in Colorado and elsewhere. General areas of emphasis include aquatic ecology and fish biology, population and community monitoring and modeling, the analysis of animal movement and spatio-temporal ecological processes, and disease ecology and epidemiology.
Position Summary
We seek an outstanding individual to evaluate the effects of pollutants on water quality and aquatic animal health. The RA will perform Aquatic Toxicology research projects, including design, statistical analysis, and troubleshooting functions. The RA will also be responsible for maintaining ongoing research into fish diseases, including designing experiments, statistical and modeling analyses and fish disease surveillance and analyses, as well as fish collection.  The RA must be familiar with molecular disease assays used to monitor important fish diseases, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR, Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT), and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA). The RA will also be responsible for reporting and submitting research to peer-reviewed publications. Specific projects will be identified through routine prioritization processes within Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and collaboration with Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The primary function of this research associate is to provide additional lab support and capabilities to ongoing aquatic toxicology and fish health projects being in collaboration with CPW Aquatic Research Section.
Required Job Qualifications
  • B.S. degree in fisheries, biology, ecology or a closely related field plus 3 years experience.
  • Experience with designing and executing laboratory and field experiments to evaluate fish health relative to water quality and disease.
  • A record of peer-reviewed publication in fish disease or ecotoxicology.
  • A record of final project report writing
  • A record of communicating research results to scientific and public audiences.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Experience with fish disease surveillance and analyses, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR, Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT), and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA).
  • Formal training (i.e., classroom or workshop) in statistical analyses of fish health and toxicology data.
  • Formal training (i.e., classroom or workshop) in R-programming and hierarchical statistical analyses.
  • Demonstrated experience in the execution and administration of research studies, including Animal Use Protocols, Institutional Biosafety protocols, collecting permits and other relevant documentation required for animal research.
  • Demonstrated experience in fish capture, including electrofishing, seining, gillnetting, trapping, and other methods as necessary.
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Essential Duties 

Job Duty Category Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
Assist Principal Investigators with all aspects of designing and executing both laboratory and field experiments to evaluate fish health.  Ensure that all laboratory and field experimental protocols are followed and that the research is conducted safely.
Complete all the necessary paperwork relative to animal experiments, such as Animal Use Protocols, Institutional Biosafety, collecting permits and any other relevant documentation required by CSU or other agencies.
Percentage Of Time 40
Job Duty Category Experimental Design and Execution
Duty/Responsibility
Assist principal investigators with the design and execution of laboratory and field experiments in toxicology and fish health.
Duties will include the building and set up of laboratory apparatus to house and expose animals in toxicological and disease experiments.
Duties will include an ability to work in physically challenging field conditions to collect data on water quality and fish populations.
Duties will include fish sampling, including electrofishing, seining, gillnetting, trapping, and other methods as necessary.
Duties will include fish disease surveillance and analyses, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR, Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT), and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA).
Percentage Of Time 40
Job Duty Category Data analysis and write-up
Duty/Responsibility
Collate, organize, and analyze toxicology and fish health data. These data may come from a variety of sources, such as chemical analyses, genetic or molecular analyses, population level evaluations, as well as other potential sources.  The ability to work with a variety of biological data is critical.
The ability to produce reports and publications that include appropriate analyses and effectively communicate the findings of this research is important to ensure that this research reaches and is well received by the correct audiences.
Effective completion of this duty will result in data that will be used to evaluate water quality relative to fish health and aquatic life criteria. It will allow CPW and other regulatory agencies to assess and refine aquatic life criteria.
Percentage Of Time 10
Job Duty Category Communication
Duty/Responsibility
Assist the principal investigators in orally communicating research results to a wide variety of stakeholders, including agency personnel, academic collaborators, and the public. The communication may include in person presentations as well as online formats.
Percentage Of Time 10