Research Technician

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Contact Information of two or more References in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Application review will begin on 2/4/2026 on a continuing basis thereafter until the position is filled.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Prof. Qilin Li: qilin.li@rice.edu

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Rice WaTER Institute ( https://water.rice.edu ) and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ( https://cee.rice.edu ) invite applications for a Research Technician position in Prof. Qilin Li’s Lab ( https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/qilin-li ). The initial appointment will be one year, renewed annually contingent on funding and performance.

The Research Technician will support bench to pilot scale testing of water and wastewater treatment processes and systems in Prof. Qilin Li’s laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University.

This is a benefits-eligible, full-time position funded by grant, soft, and/or restricted funds; however, part-time employment (minimum 20 hours per week) will be considered. The appointment is for one year.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a dependable, detail-oriented individual with basic training or experience in laboratory, environmental, or water-related work. They are comfortable assisting with experimental systems, collecting samples, performing routine measurements, and following established protocols. Strong organizational skills, accurate data entry, a willingness to learn, and the ability to work well in a collaborative research environment are essential.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

*Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Hiring Range: $18.89 - $22.69/hour

Minimum Requirements:

• Associate’s degree
• Three or more (3+) years of experience supporting research and technical environments
  

Skills:

• Experience or training in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or a related technical field
• Basic knowledge and related technics of water and wastewater quality analysis
• Ability to perform simple data analysis (e.g., data entry, basic calculations, and plotting data figures) using Excel and/or other data analytics tools
• Comfortable working with laboratory or pilot-scale experimental systems
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow experimental protocols rigorously
  

Preferences:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience with electrodialysis, electrochemical systems, or membrane processes
• Familiarity with water quality analysis methods
• Previous laboratory or pilot-scale system experience
  

Essential Functions:

• Operate, maintain, and optimize wastewater treatment prototype systems and carry out on-site and field testing
• Conduct bench-scale experiments
• Collect and analyze water samples from test systems
• Perform system troubleshooting as needed
• Perform basic water and wastewater quality analytical measurements
• Collect, analyze, and report experimental data
• Assist with project reporting
  

Research Environment:

• Experimental work in a collaborative research setting
• Laboratory testing and some field work
• Opportunity to gain experience in electrified water treatment, nutrient recovery, and resource recovery technologies

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.