Temporary Project Associate – Cornell University’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Remote)

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

13d•Remote

About The Position

This is a part-time, one-year fixed-term position with the possibility of renewal based on available funding, performance, and business needs. The DARE (Dynamic Atlas of Riverine Ecosystems and Infrastructure) project is a five-year, multi-institutional research effort led by Cornell University and funded by Schmidt Sciences through the VIEW program. The project integrates advances in global hydrology, sediment transport, freshwater ecology, remote sensing, water management, and uncertainty analysis to reconstruct the operations of hydraulic infrastructure systems at the global scale, and then quantify its impacts on river discharge, sediment transport, water temperature, and biodiversity. Through these efforts, DARE will develop the first global dataset of time-series data on the past and present evolution of riverine systems under human influence. While the approach is global, the project also focuses on two sentinel sites (Amazon and Mekong) for data and model validation, as well as policy development. Given the scale and collaborative nature of the initiative, we are seeking a part-time Project Associate to support coordination, communication, and reporting across the consortium. This role will be scheduled to work 13-14 hours per week. The role focuses on maintaining continuity, organizing information, and preparing materials in draft form for the Lead PI, PIs, and project team.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, engineering, public policy, or related discipline)
Experience in project coordination or management, preferably in academic or research settings
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Clear and concise writing ability, with experience preparing summaries or structured documents
Ability to manage tasks across multiple stakeholders and follow through independently

Nice To Haves

Supporting research projects or grant-funded initiatives
Familiarity with collaborative tools (e.g., Google Workspace, GitHub, project management platforms)
Basic experience with website maintenance

Responsibilities

Attend PI and project meetings; prepare clear, concise meeting notes and circulate them promptly
Track action items and follow up with team members to support timely progress
Provide gentle, consistent reminders to ensure alignment with agreed timelines and deliverables
Prepare and circulate monthly project digests, summarizing key updates, milestones, and upcoming activities
Collect and organize inputs from project partners and synthesize them into structured drafts
Develop and maintain a project website (e.g., GitHub Pages or similar platform)
Ensure content (team information, outputs, updates) is current and well organized
Maintain shared folders and project documentation in a clear and accessible structure
Assist in the preparation of mid-year and annual reports, including coordination of inputs across teams and supporting financial reporting
Maintain an up-to-date overview of project expenditures, tracking budgets and expenses in coordination with the Lead PI