Position Summary:

Provide research, technical, and administrative support for the broad range of programs and activities undertaken by the Smith College Spatial Analysis Lab (SAL). Develop curricular materials for classes and workshops using GIS and GPS technology. Work with faculty and students to promote the use of geospatial research methods in campus scholarship. Document, maintain, and acquire spatial data, maintaining lab equipment and associated software. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Student and Faculty Support:  Provide support as a Teaching Assistant for Smith’s Introductory GIS Class (GEO/ENV 150: Modelling Our World), Geomorphology (GEO 251), and Researching Environmental Problems (ENV 201/202).  Develop and lead spatial thinking activities, especially using ArcGIS Online/Story Maps, for a diverse set of classes in the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.  Provide technical support for students and faculty working on independent research using GIS, GPS, and drones.  Assist in supervising student lab assistants.

Administration and outreach: Aasist with SAL outreach by writing blog posts, assembling bi-weekly newsletter, and updating web site. Design maps that engage the wider Smith community, including “Mystery Map” competitions and campus crowd sourced maps.  Assist with conference planning and logistics, grant writing, and other administrative duties as required.

Data management, equipment maintenance, and system administration:Provide administrative and program support to the GIS Specialist in maintaining the Lab’s spatial data collection, and acquire or generate new digital materials to support classroom and research requirements. Generate metadata as required to meet college, national, and state standards. Promote data standards and guidelines to the user base.  Prepare lab computers, GPS units, and drones for use in the classroom and in research. Install updates, firmware, and datasets as required GPS units, iPads, drones, and lab computers. Administer equipment sign-out, delivery, and return system. Process and document field data for user community, as needed.

Workshops: Develop materials and acquire data for workshops on GIS, GPS, web mapping tools, and other topics.  Instruct one-week interterm GIS class.  Lead other events such as humanitarian mapathons.

Other: Other duties are flexible and depend greatly on the fellow’s interests and the specific opportunities that present themselves during the fellow’s time at Smith (personal research projects, professional development).

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:  Bachelor’s degree. Research or direct project experience with Geographic Information Systems, and Global Positioning Systems required or an equivalent combination of education/experience.   

Skills: Well developed organizational and both written and verbal communication skills. Attention to detail very important.  Skills in computer programming, web based APIs, and database management experience highly desirable.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, academic year and limited-term position with the possibility of renewal. 

Smith College is an EO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer