Job Posting – OBSIP Project Associate


Project Associate – Ocean Bottom Seismograph Instrument Pool and Instrumentation Services, Washington, DC

The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS, www.iris.edu) is a university research consortium dedicated to refining the understanding of the Earth through the collection and distribution of seismographic data. IRIS programs, funded by the National Science Foundation, contribute to scholarly research, education, earthquake hazard mitigation, and the verification of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Part of this mission includes management of the Ocean Bottom Seismograph Instrument Pool (OBSIP), facilitating the collection of high-quality marine seismological data. We seek a Project Associate to work predominantly on key tasks related to the OBSIP program and participate in the activities of other IRIS Instrumentation Services programs, such as the USArray Transportable Array.

The Project Associate will work closely with the OBSIP Program Manager to perform quality assurance for all OBSIP data, develop and utilize software tools, document OBSIP data analyses, and maintain the schedule for OBSIP facility operations. This position will also work with the Director of Instrumentation Services and other IRIS managers to collect and assemble technical data for reporting, presentations, and related project management tasks. Other potential tasks include working with seismological data and software tools for special studies, presenting project data, and preparing and editing content for IRIS web pages. The Project Associate will routinely interact with OBSIP instrument operators and scientists within the IRIS community. There is the expectation to attend and participate in regular workshops and scientific conferences. This job provides a unique opportunity to utilize scientific skills while participating in activities related to the management of large-scale seismological infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have a combination of knowledge, training, and/or experience in: seismology, the Unix environment, seismological software/tools, web authoring and office software, and scientific/technical writing and presentations. A graduate degree in geophysics/seismology, or equivalent experience, and strong communication and problem solving skills are required. Experience with OBS data and data corrections, relationship databases, and database management systems are plusses. The candidate must be able to work effectively and collegially with the IRIS Instrumentation Services team, instrument operators, and the broader earth science research community.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits. Candidates should submit a letter of interest, a resume highlighting pertinent work experience, and the contact information (name, phone number, and email) for at least two references. To apply, these should be sent electronically to hr@iris.edu with the subject line “OBSIP Project Associate”. The position is available immediately, and applications will be reviewed starting on April 30. More information is available here:

http://www.iris.edu/hq/employment/job/project_associate_obsip