**Position Details** Position Information **Requisition Number** S5013P **Home Org Name** Sch of Arch PlanandLndscp Arch-Main **Division Name** College Arch Desgn and Construction **Position Title** Research Associate **Job Class Code** HA02 ( a,b,c,d) **Appointment Status** Full-time **Part-time FTE** **Limited Term** Yes **Limited Term Length** 12 month **Job Summary** The School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture is seeking a qualified individual for the position of **Research Associate I – IV** to join theLandscape Infrastructure Design Lab (https://lidl.auburn.edu/) ( **LIDL** ).LIDL conducts design research using landscape architectural methods to advance the design, planning, and management of nature-based infrastructures. LIDL’s work is deeply collaborative, involving partnerships with federal sponsors; disciplines like coastal engineering, hydrology, ecology, and geomorphology; and local communities, as well as other landscape architects. Currently, we are working on a broad range of coastal infrastructure projects from the Great Lakes south to the Gulf of Mexico, sponsored by funders including the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering With Nature program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Effects of Sea Level Rise program, and the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The methods of our design research typically include fieldwork, mapping, iterative design, and physical and numerical hydrodynamic modeling. This position will include a significant component of work on our largest project, Tidelands (Tidelands – Natural Infrastructure Innovation Project (https://tidelands.us/) ), which is sponsored by Engineering With Nature. Tidelands launched in 2023 and is proposed to run for five years. Its aim is to conduct design research into **_what_** forms of natural infrastructure are possible in the nation’s bays and estuaries, **_which_** forms are most desirable, and **_how_** to increase innovation in natural infrastructure design. To do this, Tidelands is engaging deeply withEWN , localUSACE districts, and a broad range of other stakeholders. This is a 12-month, limited-term position, funded by external sources. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of funding and satisfactory performance. It is expected but not guaranteed that additional external funding will be available to renew the position in future years. **Review of applicants will start 23 February 2026. Anticipated start date between April and June of 2026.** **Essential Functions** + Prepare drawings and maps synthesizing information about existing landscape conditions. + Participate in field-based research in project landscapes. + Participate in design workshops with stakeholders and multi-university project teams + Advance infrastructure design concepts through research-by-design. + Help build, run, and maintain simple physical and numerical hydrodynamic and geomorphological models. + Produce representations of infrastructure design concepts. + Review scientific literature and key documents related to study landscapes. + Document results of research-by-design and assist in report preparation. + Assist in coordinating work withinLIDL and across multi-university project teams. + Participate in project team meetings and other stakeholder interactions. + May prepare research results for publication or presentation at conferences. + May help maintain project budgets. **Why Work at Auburn?** + **Life-Changing Impact** : Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world. + **Culture of Excellence** : We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education. + **We’re Here for You** : Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance. + **Sweet Home Alabama** : The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches. + **A Place for Everyone** : Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged. Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle! Minimum Qualifications **Minimum Qualifications** **Level I:** Possesses Masters degree in discipline appropriate to position with no experience. _Typical salaries are between $47,840 – $54,670_ Full grade range $41,000 – $61,500 **Level II:** Possesses Masters degree in discipline appropriate to position with 2 years’ experience. _Typical salaries are between $54,410 – $62,470_ Full grade range $45,340 – $72,540 **LevelIII :** Possesses Masters degree in discipline appropriate to position with 4 years’ experience. _Typical salaries are between $61,920 – $73,640_ Full grade range $50,210 – $85,360 **Level IV:** Possesses Masters degree in discipline appropriate to position with 6 years’ experience. _Typical salaries are between $71,210 – $84,690_ Full grade range $57,740 – $98,160 **Substitutions allowed for Experience:** When a candidate has the required education, but lacks the required experience, they may normally apply additional appropriate education toward the experience requirement, at a rate of one (1) year relevant education per year of required experience. Minimum Skills, License, and Certifications **Minimum Skills and Abilities** + Candidates must evidence a sophisticated approach to design, grounded in the integration of aesthetic, cultural, and ecological dimensions of landscape. This approach may include but must not be limited to strictly quantifiable measures of landscape performance. + The candidate should be familiar with software used in landscape architectural representation, including Adobe CS. + Candidates must evidence the capacity to effectively produce landscape architectural representations of dynamic environments like coasts. + The candidate should be willing to learn basic physical and numerical modeling methods. + The successful candidate will demonstrate commitment to the timely completion of deliverables and strong potential to work collaboratively with both a large research team and diverse stakeholders. + Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills are required. **Minimum Technology Skills** **Minimum License and Certifications** Desired Qualifications **Desired Qualifications** + Experience with nature-based infrastructure design and/or design for dynamic landscapes shaped by the interaction of water, sediment, and vegetation. + Experience with Rhinoceros modeling software andGIS mapping software. + Experience with research-by-design methods. Posting Detail Information **Salary Range** $41,000- $98,160 **Job Category** Research **Working Hours if Non-Traditional** **City position is located in:** Auburn **State position is located:** Alabama **List any hazardous conditions or physical demands required by this position** **Posting Date** 01/21/2026 **Closing Date** **Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement** It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit theirwebsite (https://auburn.edu/administration/eoc/) to learn more. **Special Instructions to Applicants** **Quick Link for Internal Postings** https://www.auemployment.com/postings/57811 **Documents Needed to Apply** **Required Documents** 1. Cover Letter 2. Curriculum Vitae 3. Portfolio **Optional Documents** 1. Other