Air Quality & Environmental Justice Specialist

Position Title: Air Quality & Environmental Justice Specialist

Semester/Year: 2024 Holiday Break- 2025 Spring Semester

Total Positions Available: 2

Supervisor: Nan Arens

Pay rate: $15- $15.50 per hour 

Hours per week: 3

Start Date: December 16, 2024 

End Date: May 5, 2025

Job Description

In collaboration with Blueprint Geneva, we are assessing air quality in and around the city of Geneva with a particular eye on state-identified disadvantaged communities that border current and legacy industry areas and major traffic routes. We have deployed a series of air quality monitoring sensors across the city. We will continue to install sensors as well as gathering, cleaning, processing, visualizing, and analyzing these data as well as preparing outreach materials for the community. We may also do “snapshot” measurements on an as-needed basis. Work will vary from week to week and include some field work within the City of Geneva (you will need your own or collaborative transportation), computer work, assembling and testing equipment, and potentially some community outreach that may include collaboration with high school teachers in the Geneva City School District. The job will require your full attention during work hours—you will not be able to do homework or be on your phone during work time. Work hours are flexible in coordination with supervisor. Candidates should be prepared to take intellectual ownership of the project, solve problems and learn independently, communicate well, and work productively as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Install and maintain sensors in the field.
• Download data from sensors distributed across the City of Geneva.
• Prepare data as .csv files. Upload, clean, and visualize data in R. Explore data to look for patterns that require interpretation or further investigation. Map data.
• Design, carry out and analyze “snapshot” monitoring campaigns as suggested by ongoing monitoring.
• Work with high school teachers to advance citizen science projects in their classrooms.
• Prepare engaging non-technical reports, videos, and story maps to communicate findings to the community.

Qualifications

Growth mindset, initiative, ability to learn and find answers to questions independently, ability to follow instructions precisely. The ability to work productively as part of a team in which good communication and personal accountability are essential. Some experience with the basic methods of scientific research (ability to design methods to answer specific questions and to work with technology) would be helpful. Basic familiarity with the R statistical computing language and ArcGIS online is important. If you do not already have these skills through coursework or previous research experience, willingness to learn independently is essential.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin immediately. You may be contacted by the hiring supervisor for additional information.