The Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering invites applications for a part-time (0.50 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.
This position resides in Oregon State University’s Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering’s Openly Published Environmental Sensing Lab (open-sensing.org) under the guidance of Dr. Chet Udell and Dr. John Selker. The OPEnS Lab is at the forefront of pioneering research and innovation in open-source hardware and environmental sensing. Our mission is to create accessible and cutting-edge technology solutions that empower researchers, educators, and communities worldwide.
This position is responsible for supporting the design, development, and validation of electronic (embedded, analog, and digital) systems across lab projects, with a primary focus on mentoring student teams and ensuring high-quality design practices. Responsibilities include reviewing and advising on analog and digital circuit designs, PCB layouts, embedded systems integration, and power systems, including solar and battery-based applications. The incumbent will provide guidance on component selection, datasheet interpretation, and system-level design decisions, and will support the evaluation of power consumption and development of energy budgets to ensure reliable system performance. Seeking feedback from student teams on design performance and issues discovered in lab and field trials to iterate and improve systems is expected. The incumbent’s technical expertise, problem-solving ability, and communication skills will be essential in supporting effective design processes across multiple teams. At times the incumbent may be asked to design electronic systems independently from student teams.
The incumbent will work closely with student teams to conduct regular design reviews, provide hands-on troubleshooting support, and guide the development of structured diagnostic approaches. The incumbent will assist in identifying and resolving circuit, layout, and system integration issues, and will provide feedback to help ensure designs are ready for fabrication and deployment. The incumbent will support the development of training materials and best-practice guidelines, and will help establish and reinforce design standards and workflows while maintaining a learning-focused environment.
The incumbent will also support and advise the maintenance and improvement of electronics lab infrastructure, including tools, testing equipment, and design environments, and will assist in maintaining organized and consistent design file repositories across projects. All duties include working with diverse student populations, including ethnic minorities, older than average students, students with disabilities, and those enrolled from remote areas, some of which are outside the U.S. Important aspects of the work include frequent interaction with students and faculty, strong attention to detail, and the ability to balance technical rigor with mentorship in a dynamic academic and research environment.
There is an expectation that, as part of your role in the college, you embody and advance the principles and practices conveyed in the CAS CARE Commitment document.