About Franklin & Marshall College:
Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) is recruiting for a part-time, one-year Research Assistant to assist with its new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative funded by a recently awarded three-year grant from The RK Mellon Foundation.
Franklin & Marshall College is a residential college dedicated to excellence in undergraduate liberal education. Its aims are to inspire in young people of high promise and diverse backgrounds a genuine and enduring love for learning, to teach them to read, write, and think critically, to instill in them the capacity for both independent and collaborative action, and to educate them to explore and understand the natural, social and cultural worlds in which they live. In so doing, the College seeks to foster in its students qualities of intellect, creativity, and character, that they may live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their occupations, their communities, and their world.
Lancaster: A Great Place to Live!
The campus is located in a residential neighborhood in Lancaster, PA, a vital, historic city in a county of more than 500,000 residents, with easy access to Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and Washington, D.C. Lancaster offers both a diverse, urban environment and lush, rolling farmland. Residents enjoy charming historic districts and historical landmarks, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, and dining and shopping to suit every taste.
Job Description:
The RK Mellon Foundation grant includes funding for a part-time research assistant for each of the three years. The anticipated work schedule is three days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The post-bac research assistant will develop tools for communicating science regarding dam removal, stream bank erosion, and stream and wetland restoration to policy makers and the public. These tools will include ESRI GIS-based story maps, educational fact sheets, and other documents with visual content such as drone imagery.
The post-bac research assistant will work with professional staff on this project, particularly data analyst Michael Rahnis, to quantify stream bank erosion using the technique of dem-differencing with repeat lidar acquisitions for Lancaster County. Sites of high rates of erosion will be investigated in the field in order to provide visual documentation of types and amounts of erosion.
The post-bac research assistant will compile information on 10 examples of stream-wetland restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region and generate an ESRI GIS-based story map on the projects. This story map will include details regarding why the projects were done and for whom, how they were done (including details on project design and construction), and outcomes associated with post-restoration monitoring.
To learn more about the Earth and Environment Department that received this grant, please click HERE.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree required, with preference for strong writing skills and coursework in environmental studies and Geographic Information Systems.
- GIS experience and training required.
- Ability to create and refine ESRI GIS-based story maps required.
- Some programming experience required.
- Must have excellent written and oral communication skills and be able to explain complex scientific information to novices.
- Must be comfortable speaking in public and at professional venues (e.g., meetings with policy makers and funding agencies)
- Experience flying a drone is preferred.
- Must possess ability to maintain confidential information in a professional manner.
- The ability and willingness to provide excellent service and to work in a collegial manner with students, faculty and staff, and other constituencies is essential.
Because this position requires driving for College business, the successful candidate must possess a U.S. or Canadian driver’s license which has been valid for at least two years, have a driving record that is free from excessive motor vehicle violations within the last three years, and have had no convictions in the last 24 months for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Additional Information:
Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of reference checks, a criminal background verification, and verification of credentials. The College will coordinate these verifications.
Franklin & Marshall College requires all employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination by sending a scanned copy of their completed vaccination card to Human Resources. Employees may request a religious or medical vaccination exemption by contacting Human Resources.
Part-time members of the Franklin & Marshall College professional staff enjoy access to all College facilities, including dining venues to suit all tastes, free access to recreation and fitness facilities for the employee dependent family members, free access to College libraries, plus free or reduced access to most College performances, lectures, and events, on-site professional development workshops, and health and wellness activities. Discounts are available on Lancaster YMCA memberships, long-term care insurance, and the campus bookstore. Medical benefits are not available to part-time employees.
Franklin & Marshall College is committed to having an inclusive campus community where all members are treated with dignity and respect. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the College does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of gender/gender-identity, sex, race or ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, genetic information, family or marital status, sexual orientation, or any other protected class.
Individuals who need an accommodation due to a disability in order to submit an application or attend an employment interview should contact Human Resources at (717) 358-3995.
Franklin & Marshall is proud to offer a smoke-free work environment.
Application Instructions:
All resumes and cover letters must be submitted via this online process. We regret we are unable to accept applications or resumes submitted via mail, email, or fax.
As you are submitting your application via this online process, please ensure that you provide an accurate email address. You will then receive an acknowledgment indicating that your application materials have been received.
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