Position Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Base Dept: 3118 – UNC Institute for the Environment
Perm/Temp: Temporary, up to 15 hours per week
Salary range: $18 per hour
Start Date: January, 2012
Application Deadline: December 19, 2011
The graduate research assistant (GRA) will be a staff member of the Environmental Resource Program in the UNC Institute for the Environment and will work closely with a planning team for the North Carolina Watershed Stewardship Network of the Center of Excellence for Watershed Management. The ultimate goal of the Watershed Stewardship Network is to implement and link watershed science education across the state to promote effective, long-term, sustainable watershed management efforts.
The GRA will conduct a needs assessment focused on watershed education and management efforts across North Carolina. Funding is available for spring 2012 with potential for continued funding during the summer.
Tasks will include conducting information and literature search aimed at developing an inventory of programs that are currently conducting watershed outreach and training or have the capacity to do so in NC; submitting application for IRB approval; developing methodology to document current resources, gaps and trends among programs identified in inventory; developing data collection methods for needs assessment, determining sampling scheme, designing and piloting collection instrument; conducting needs assessment including surveys, interviews and focus groups; analyzing data and writing final report.
Qualifications: Currently enrolled graduate student in environmental science, ecology, geography, planning, public administration or related field. Applicant must have academic training and/or experience in social science research methodologies, such as survey design and analysis, needs assessments or community/stakeholder engagement. Willingness to conduct face to face interviews and focus groups is a must. Some travel will be expected, and travel costs will be reimbursed by the project.
To Apply: Please submit cover letter, resume and contact information for 3 professional or academic references (at least one of which can speak to your experience in one of the social science research fields mentioned above) to Michele.Drostin@unc.edu by December 15.
The Watershed Stewardship Network is a coordinated effort among the partners of the NC Center of Excellence for Watershed Management (WRRI and DENR), the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Resource Program and NC Cooperative Extension’s Watershed Education for Communities and Officials. The Center of Excellence for Watershed Management was developed through an agreement by the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of the center is to train and provide technical assistance to build the capacity of local stakeholders committed to improving and maintaining the natural and economic resources of their watersheds.
