Position Announcement – Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.) Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
M.S. in Environmental Science
Ferguson College of Agriculture – Oklahoma State University

Project Area: Watershed assessment and water quality monitoring in the Eucha–Spavinaw Watershed 

Position Description

The Environmental Science Graduate Program at Oklahoma State University is seeking a motivated M.S. student to support a research project in the Eucha–Spavinaw Watershed (pending funding availability).

This watershed supplies drinking water to communities in northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas and is a focus of ongoing watershed management efforts.

The graduate research assistant will assist with field data collection, watershed assessment, and water quality monitoring, including:

• Field verification of watershed boundaries, access points, and other critical locations
• Field surveys of selected parcels and watershed locations
• Compilation of geospatial datasets including land use/land cover, wetlands, and vegetative cover
• Collection and analysis of sediment (STP) and water samples (TP, PO₄, TN, NH₃, chlorophyll-a)
• Collection of water quality profiles using a multiparameter sonde (temperature, DO, pH, etc.)
• Compilation of records related to point and non-point sources and waste management in the watershed
• Aggregation and cleaning of water quality, hydrologic, and geospatial data
• Support for erosion/sediment assessments and water quality modeling (including BEHI field verification)

The student will work under the supervision of Dr. Karen R. Hickman in the Environmental Science Graduate Program. Oklahoma State University is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, approximately one hour from Oklahoma City and Tulsa. This assistantship includes a stipend, health insurance, and a tuition waiver.

For more information visit our website at: 
https://agriculture.okstate.edu/departments-programs/environmental-science/graduate-program. 

Qualifications Required: B.S. in Environmental Science or a closely related discipline. Admission 
to the OSU Environmental Science M.S. program. Ability to work in outdoor field environments. Valid 
driver’s license. Preferred: Experience with GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS). Field sampling or water quality 
monitoring experience. Experience with environmental data management or analysis.

Tentative Start Date:
Summer 2026.