Employment Opportunities

  • ASAC Summer Counselor

    camp group pic

    Counselor Position

    Our camp consists of both overnight and day camp sessions for which we need passionate and responsible counselors. This position will serve to supervise campers, lead activities, be the eyes and ears of camp, and provide a healthy, safe, and enjoyable experience for campers.

    Responsibilities and Tasks

    • Under supervision of the director, counselors will develop and lead fun and engaging games, crafts, and activities for campers.
    • Learn all camp educational and outdoor adventure activities, along with safety specifications for all.
    • Mediate conflicts between campers and when necessary, consult supervisor for help.
    • Manage transitions from one activity to the next to ensure timely arrival of your group and a consistent schedule.
    • Assist with camp check in by greeting families, interpreting/taking registration forms, and distributing T-shirts/nametags. Be able to communicate with families in a friendly and helpful manner.
    • Facilitate group activities with your campers during free periods.
    • Drive minors in a 12-passenger van to various activities including trips to Spring Branch, Wimberley, and Gonzales, Texas.
    • Spend the night with campers on occasion (1-2 nights/overnight camp), in a residence hall or at University Camp.
    • Keep track of camper dietary restrictions and allergies and ensure proper snacks/meals are provided for each of your campers.
    • Enforce camp behavior and safety rules with assistance from other staff.
    • Communicate regularly with staff and teachers through e-mail, groupme, and phone calls.
    • Other duties as assigned.
     

    Qualifications - minimum

    • At least 18 years of age
    • Strong interpersonal skills and good work ethic
    • Be comfortable working with children ages 9-16
    • Have strong swimming skills and comfort in natural aquatic settings
    • Demonstrate an aptitude for learning and teaching scientific concepts
    • Demonstrate a commitment to safety and thoughtfulness
    • Possess Texas driver’s license and have clean driving record
    • Possess or be willing to obtain certification for first aid and CPR
    • Must be able to pass a background check and complete child abuse and sexual misconduct prevention training

    Qualifications – preferred

    • Be working towards a degree in Recreation Administration, Therapeutic Recreation, Education, Social Work, or Outdoor Education
    • Possess lifeguard certification
    • Experience working as camp counselor or in a similar position

    About the Camps

    Since 1988, the Aquatic Science Adventure Camps at Texas State University have been the premier science summer camp in central Texas. With sessions available for children ages 9-16, they are designed to introduce campers to the amazing world of aquatic science through a holistic, inquiry-based learning environment. We strive to make sure the entire camp is an educational experience and even our fun and games are designed to get campers to think scientifically. Campers are encouraged to ask questions and given tools to investigate those questions for themselves.

    Working Conditions

    Camps run from June to August, with training taking place in late May. Counselors need to be able to work outdoors for long hours in the heat and any other weather conditions that may occur. Need to be able to stand for long hours and hike up to 2 miles carrying a backpack.

    Supervision

    Counselors will report to the Education Program Manager

    Compensation

    This is a paid position. Pay is between $12 and $13 per hour depending on experience and university rules.

    Application Process

    Please send a résumé and cover letter to:

    Kellie Donajkowski – Education Program Manager EARDC_education@txstate.edu

  • ASAC Summer Intern/Fieldwork Position

    Our camp consists of both overnight and day camp sessions for which we need passionate and responsible staff. This position will serve to supervise campers, lead activities, be the eyes and ears of camp, and provide a healthy, safe, and enjoyable experience for campers.

    This position will have a variety of opportunities to learn about and facilitate outdoor and science education, including administrative and programming aspects of a university-sponsored summer camp. Time commitment of 200 hours for fieldwork students and 400 hours for Interns over the summer term, with continued employment through the camp season.

    Responsibilities and Tasks

    • Assist with preparation for camps including purchasing supplies, preparing printed materials, emailing confirmation letters, managing registration records, and planning recreation and education activities.
    • Under supervision of the director, develop and implement fun and engaging games, crafts, and activities for campers.
    • Working as part of a larger team and under supervision from the director, ensure efficient operation of day and overnight camps, including set-up and break down of activities, transitioning between activities, moving campers between locations, and other logistics (e.g. purchasing supplies, making ‘gear’ runs, etc) as necessary.
    • Assist with camp check in by greeting families, interpreting/taking registration forms, and distributing T-shirts/nametags. Be able to communicate with families with a friendly and helpful manner.
    • Assist with camper management and counseling, including issues such as illness, homesickness, conflict management etc.
    • Enforce camp behavior and safety rules with assistance from other staff.
    • Assist with food preparation (setting out of breakfast foods, sandwich material, warming of dinner entrees) or pickup of takeout food from area restaurants.
    • Keep track of camper dietary restrictions and allergies and ensure proper snacks/meals are provided for each of your campers.
    • Drive minors in a 12-passenger van to various activities including trips to Spring Branch, Wimberley, and Gonzales, Texas.
    • Spend the night with campers on occasion (1-2 nights/overnight week), in a residence hall or at University Camp.
    • Communicate regularly with staff and teachers through e-mail, groupme, and phone calls.
    • Other duties as assigned.

    Qualifications - minimum

     
    • Be working towards a degree in Recreation Administration, Therapeutic Recreation, Education, Social Work, or Outdoor Education
    • At least 18 years of age
    • Possess Texas driver’s license and have clean driving record
    • Be able to drive 12-passenger vans to various activities.
    • Strong interpersonal skills and good work ethic
    • Be comfortable working with children ages 9-16
    • Have strong swimming skills and comfort in natural aquatic settings
    • Demonstrate an aptitude for learning and teaching scientific concepts
    • Demonstrate a commitment to safety and thoughtfulness
    • Possess or be willing to obtain certification for first aid and CPR
    • Must be able to pass a background check and complete child abuse and sexual misconduct prevention training

    Qualifications – preferred

    • Possess lifeguard certification
    • Experience working as camp counselor or in a similar position

    About the Camps

    Since 1988, the Aquatic Science Adventure Camps at Texas State University have been the premier science summer camp in central Texas. With sessions available for children ages 9-16, they are designed to introduce campers to the amazing world of aquatic science through a holistic, inquiry-based learning environment. We strive to make sure the entire camp is an educational experience and even our fun and games are designed to get campers to think scientifically. Campers are encouraged to ask questions and given tools to investigate those questions for themselves.

    Working Conditions

    Camps run from June to August, with training taking place in late May. Counselors need to be able to work outdoors for long hours in the heat and any other weather conditions that may occur. Need to be able to stand for long hours and hike up to 2 miles carrying a backpack.

    Supervision

    Fieldwork students and Interns will report to the Education Program Manager

    Compensation

    This is a paid position. Pay is between $12 and $13 per hour depending on experience and university rules.

    Application Process

    Please send a résumé and cover letter to:

    Kellie Donajkowski – Education Program Manager EARDC_education@txstate.edu

  • POSITION FILLED MARCH '23

    Required Qualifications: Applicants must specifically address how they meet these required qualifications to meet the requirements of the position.

    • Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemistry or other science field.
    • 16 college credit hours of chemistry

    Preferred Qualifications

    • Experience with, and an advanced knowledge of, chemistry
    • Experience working in an analytical lab
    • Experience using standard methods in a lab setting
    • Experience working with analytical instruments and sensors including but not limited to: ion chromatography, pH sensors, ovens, autoclaves, incubators, autosamplers, microbalances, and thermometers.
    • Experience with measuring devices including but not limited to sensors, rulers, gauges, and balances.
    • Intermediate to advanced math skills
    • Ability to read, hear, understand, interpret, and retain complex technical information.
    • Ability to troubleshoot and repair instruments, and to clearly communicate with service technicians via email or phone.
    • Experience preparing technical reports, letters, and standard operating procedures
    • Experience directing the work of others, monitoring and training student and hourly workers, establishing a rapport with customers and staff, developing action plans for accomplishing results, and operating PC-based programs.
    • Basic understanding of QA/QC protocols, lab safety, and chemical hazards and hygiene.

    Job Description

    Primary duties are: bacteriological and chemical analysis of water samples; sample receiving, handling, tracking, and processing; communicating with customers; receiving payments; and reporting results to customers and regulatory agencies via verbal, written, and online communication. In the event the Technical Director is unable to work in the lab for at least 30 days, this position will also be responsible for a variety of research, supervisory, and QA/QC duties normally performed by the Technical Director.

    For more information please visit : https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/40852

  • Seeking multiple applicants to join a large, well-funded, multi-disciplinary, and highly collaborative group of researchers working on a large-scale project: “Quantifying drivers of native and non-native aquatic species abundance and distribution in drought- and flood-prone Texas basins". The project is a collaboration between TX State University and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center.
    Applicants should be broadly interested in working on hyporheic and/or groundwater systems and their connections to and influence on related surface systems at a variety of scales, from site to region. Research topics include but are not limited to: spatial and temporal patterns in species diversity and distribution, groundwater - surface water interactions from an ecohydrology perspective, flow and transport of nutrients, and geomicrobiological processes. Groundwater and hyporheic ecosystems in much of TX are biologically diverse, span multiple environmental gradients (e.g., T and Precip) and regions (e.g., geology and ecoregion), and provide excellent opportunities to test hypotheses across large and small temporal and spatial scales.
    Our collaborative group at Texas State University, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, wants to contribute to an increase in diversity (visible and invisible) in aquatic sciences and we are especially interested in applicants who share our commitment to equity and the high-quality education of students from historically underserved and systematically marginalized communities. For all positions we seek and encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply. Applicants for all positions are encouraged to describe how they will support and contribute to our efforts build and maintain a diverse and inclusive research team.


    Grant Specialists: Two full-time (40-hour/wk) positions are immediately available for highly motivated and curious applicants. A B.S. or M.S. degree in Biology or other science field is required at the time of employment. Preferred skills and experience include: excellent quantitative, problem-solving, and communication (written and oral) skills; experience collecting, sorting, and identifying aquatic freshwater invertebrates in field and lab settings using dichotomous keys and other taxonomic literature; specimen curation; a basic to advanced working knowledge or understanding of one or more of the following: invertebrate biology in stream/hyporheic/aquifer ecosystems, MS Office (including Excel and Access), statistical packages, microscope use and imaging, and GIS. Experience with a variety of microscopes and imaging software is a plus. It is anticipated that >80% of the work related to these positions will be in the lab, though opportunities will be available to pursue advanced training in lab and field methods, and alpha taxonomy for interested applicants. For more details, and to apply to these positions, please see the following postings. The positions are identical, so an applicant need only apply for one:


    Post-doctoral Researcher: One full-time post-doctoral faculty position is immediately available for a highly motivated and curious applicant with proven quantitative, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication (written and oral) skills. A Ph.D. in Biology, Environmental Science, or a related science field is required at the time of employment.
    The selected candidate will be allowed flexibility to pursue specific research projects/topics of their interest (including a portion of the budget to manage) but should broadly be interested in ecohydrology of the hyporheic zone. The selected candidate will be expected to be a key part of a large and multi-disciplinary group of PIs, other post-docs, students, and technicians, and will mentor and work closely with students at all levels. Opportunities will exist to serve on graduate committees, as well as to teach specialized graduate courses in an area of the candidates expertise.
    Preferred skills and experience include advanced knowledge of and/or experience with one or more of the following: invertebrate biology in stream/hyporheic/aquifer ecosystems, statistical packages such as SPSS or R, coding skills, imaging with optical and other microscopes (e.g., https://sro.txstate.edu ), hydrology, stable isotope analysis, GIS, database management. A record of publication in peer-reviewed literature is preferred. The selected candidate will be expected to play a key role in publishing results of the research and should expect to be primary author on publications for which they played a leading role in the research.