Isotope Research Specialist - Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Conducts environmental and agricultural research by facilitating the collection, preparation, and analysis of samples for isotopic study. Plays a critical role in integrating field sampling, laboratory techniques, and data management to advance investigations of water and nutrient dynamics in agricultural landscapes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, soil science, geology, hydrology, ecology, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience with environmental field sampling methods, including water, soil, or groundwater collection.
Experience following field and laboratory protocols and maintaining detailed records.

Nice To Haves

Valid driver's license.
Experience preparing samples for stable isotope analysis (e.g., nitrate, water isotopes).
Familiarity with laboratory techniques such as filtration, drying, weighing, and chemical preservation of samples.
Research experience in a lab or field setting, particularly related to hydrology or biogeochemistry.
Experience managing data in Excel, Google Sheets, or a laboratory information management system (LIMS).

Responsibilities

Prepare environmental samples for isotopic analysis, including filtration, chemical treatment, and preparation of bacterial cultures.
Maintain and organize field and laboratory data, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely entry into research databases.
Assist collection of environmental samples from field sites, including tile drainage, streamwater, groundwater, and soils, following standardized protocols for isotopic and hydrological analysis.