CIRES PRA Scientific Communicator
The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) in Boulder, Colorado has an immediate
opening for a PART-TIME (up to 80%) professional research assistant in science communications to contribute to the
communication of CIRES’ mission, research, and other activities.
Responsibilities
This person will be a science communicator tasked with reporting and communicating about scientific findings and
scientists for diverse audiences, including non-scientific ones. S/he will be part of a small communications team dedicated
to improving internal and external communications about the excellent science that takes place at CIRES, with a focus on
the CU-Boulder side of our institution (vs. the NOAA side).
Reporting/Writing/Editing
 Reporting and networking:
1. The ideal candidate has experience finding newsy and engaging story ideas from publications,
presentations, and from scientists directly
2. This person will feel comfortable interviewing researchers about their work and also generally discussing
the value of communication to an institute like CIRES
 Writing and editing stories and other communications for diverse audiences
1. Readers of CIRES’ periodic science magazine, Spheres
2. Journalists (news releases and news stories for the web)
3. General public and scientific collaborators (FB and twitter connections, web stories)
4. Funders (eg, the CIRES annual report to NOAA – mostly editing)
5. Decision makers who read our Hill flyers (writing, editing)
6. Internal CIRES and close collaborators (CIRES-in-the-news blurbs, announcements for the Web, award
announcements, etc.)
Administrative/Organizational
 Collaborating with comms team colleagues to develop videos and other types of multimedia presentations
 Collaborating with CU-Boulder and other institute communicators to help our science reach broad audiences
 Developing media kits for professional meetings
 Backing up colleagues in design, multimedia, administrative work
 Maintaining media and other distribution lists
 Possible: media training
 Possible: development of a CIRES tour on campus
Requirements
 Bachelor’s degree, masters preferred
 At least 3 years’ experience writing about science for lay audiences
 Strong science background
 Strong writing skills (strong editing and proofing skills preferred also)
 Proficiency with Microsoft Office and PDF authoring software (e.g., Acrobat)
 Excellent organization and time-management skills
 Ability to self-manage projects and work in a team-oriented environment
 Preferred: Experience in multimedia communications about science (eg, social media, video, animation)
Please contact Katy Human ([email protected]) at CIRES for further information.
The position will be filled as a Professional Research Assistant at the University of Colorado Boulder and will be eligible
for employee benefits, including 17.61days of vacation (for an 80% position) per year. Screening will begin immediately
and continue until the position is filled.
To Apply:
http://www.jobsatcu.com/postings/101248
Applicants must complete the Faculty/University Staff and EEO Data (application) form, and upload the required
documents:
1-Resume and salary history
2- Cover letter
3- Proof of highest degree earned (copy of diploma or unofficial transcripts)
4- List of three professional references with all contact information from whom an official written letter of recommendation
will be requested by the hiring unit at the appropriate time during the search.
5- Three writing samples (doc. 1, 2 & 3)
The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse workforce. We encourage applications
from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon
request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the ADA coordinator at [email protected]. The University of Colorado Boulder
conducts background checks for all final applicants being considered for employment.