Research Scientist

The National Center for Water Quality Research (NCWQR) at Heidelberg University is seeking a highly motivated research scientist to assume responsibilities and conduct tasks related to the Heidelberg Tributary Loading Program (HTLP) and help ensure the success of NCWQR’s operations and achieve its mission. The position requires a variety of professional duties that require an advanced level of expertise and knowledge. 

The research scientist will be hired on a year-around appointment with full employee benefits. The NCWQR is a research arm of the science departments at Heidelberg University, which is a private, comprehensive Master’s institution located in Tiffin in northwestern Ohio.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Be an integral member of the NCWQR’s  Heidelberg Tributary Loading Program (HTLP)

• Serve as the quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) personnel of the  NCWQR

• Conduct innovative and appropriate statistical analyses or modeling approaches to the HTLP data independently or as part of the NCWQR team

• Help develop and improve the analytical capacity, methods, and processes of the NCWQR.

• Conduct various loading calculations and trend models to estimate daily, seasonal, and annual loads for each of the HTLP sampling locations and constituents. 

• Write reports specific to HTLP monitoring stations as needed

Short-term research project grants and activities

• Initiate, write, and submit external grant proposals for funding existing and new innovative research projects aligned with the HTLP and NCWQR’s mission

• Help develop and contribute on project proposals within the NCWQR

• Assist as a PI or co-PI in the management and implementation of research grants tasks, activities, and deliverables including but not limited to project meetings, sample collection, data analysis, progress report and/or manuscript preparation. 

• Publish the results of NCWQR’s research projects and monitoring studies in appropriate scientific journals

Education and Outreach

• Disseminate HTLP and other project results to diverse audiences via presentations, fact sheets or handouts, webinars, or other means. 

• Participate in stakeholders’ (agricultural, environmental, academe, policy and regulatory groups, etc.) meetings at local, state, national, and bi-national levels as deemed appropriate to advance NCWQR programs.

• Participate in and/or lead interdisciplinary and inter-university research studies addressing land-use/water-quality issues both in the Great Lakes watersheds and Mississippi River basins

• Support Heidelberg’s School of Natural Sciences programs (e.g., Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Biology, etc.) through curriculum development and teaching.

• Train and supervise student workers and/or interns

• Assist students in their independent research projects

CORE VALUES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Core values – models leadership values of integrity, honesty, humility, transparency, respectfulness, diversity, caring, loyalty and accountability in all work. 

• Intellectual dynamism – demonstrates mental sharpness, capability and agility.

• Self-knowledge – gains insight from successes and mistakes.

• Personal learning – seeks feedback and counsel to improve managerial behavior.

• Peer relationships – encourages collaboration and cooperation across the organization.

• Teamwork – performs most effectively as a hard-working member of a team.

• Constituency focus – completes work to meet constituencies’ expectations and requirements.

• Community focus – brings a spirit of enthusiasm and energy to the campus and town.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education and Professional Experience:

• Completion of a PhD in the Natural Sciences, Engineering, or a related field. 

• Experience in conducting water quality, hydrologic, and sediment transport monitoring and analyses.

• Success in project proposal development and experience in project management.

• Success in publishing scientific articles. 

• Experience in presenting scientific information to mixed audiences

• Strong analytical and data analysis skills 

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Graduate coursework in and/or laboratory experience in analytical chemistry using ion-chromatography, gas-chromatography, and spectroscopy. Experience in running LC-MS-MS, GC-MS, or ICP-MS is a plus!

• Strong programming skills and experience with programming languages such as Python, R, etc.

Supervision Received:

Reports directly to the Director of the National Center for Quality Research (NCWQR)

Supervision Exercised:

May supervise student assistants and field/laboratory technicians.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

    1. Demonstrates mental sharpness, capability, and agility

        ◦ Adept at multi-tasking

        ◦ Proficient at time management 

        ◦ High attention to detail

        ◦ Efficient and quick acting when needed

        ◦ Can work independently when applicable

        ◦ Able to focus on task at hand until completion

        ◦ Good organizational skills

    2. Seeks feedback and counsel to improve knowledge, skill, abilities, and behaviors

        ◦ Asks questions about tasks at hand when needed

        ◦ Seeks to improve or revise tasks to fit current needs

        ◦ Meets expected standards of quality work 

    3. Gains insight from successes and mistakes

        ◦ Shows initiative to troubleshoot any issues or seek assistance

        ◦ Communicates any questions or issues that arise without hesitation

    4. Performs effectively as a hard-working member of a team

        ◦ Willingness to fill in on additional tasks as needed

        ◦ Show initiative to put in extra work during busy periods

        ◦ Adheres to deadlines  

        ◦ Excellent communication skills, especially with team members

        ◦ Attends project meetings barring significant time conflicts

    5. Managerial Competency

        ◦ Attends project meetings barring significant time conflict

        ◦ Provides timely, constructive, and balanced feedback

        ◦ Sets clear work expectations

        ◦ Provides training and new opportunities when needed

        ◦ Available for questions or help when needed

In order to be considered for this position, candidates should upload a cover letter describing their interest in the position, a current resume, and the contact information for three references. Review of candidates will begin no later than May 15, 2026 and will continue until the position has been filled.  

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:  Knowledge of operation and use of various office equipment including, but not limited to:  personal computer, including spreadsheet and word processing software, integrated database software, fax machine, copier, telephone, scanner, and printers.  Employees in this position must have a valid Ohio driver’s license.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use arms, hands and fingers to operate and manipulate equipment generally found in an office setting.  The employee may be frequently required to be mobile, communicate, and hear.  The employee may occasionally be subject to a variety of outdoor environmental conditions including heat, cold, and precipitation.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Mental demands include varied degrees of occasional stress while performing job duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in an office setting, and educational facilities including sports and entertainment venues, all of which may be indoor or outdoor.  The noise level in the work environment will range from moderately quiet to occasionally loud.