Graduate Assistant, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering The project is funded by the UT Green Fund and supervised by Dr. Carlos Landaverde-Alvarado in the McKetta department of Chemical Engineering. The work will be associated with Chemical Engineering courses CHE-253M and CHE-264 and conducted within the undergraduate teaching laboratories in the chemical engineering department. The labs are housed in the CPE building and the new ACS building. The Landaverde-Alvarado Lab within the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering is seeking a current graduate student to work on a project focused on the study, development, and implementation of sustainable practices in teaching laboratory spaces. The student will support courses ChE 235M and ChE 264 by collaborating to create and modify manuals, instructional materials, laboratory materials, and other educational support resources (e.g., experiment stations). As part of these activities, the graduate assistant will apply the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) framework to facilitate the integration of sustainability education and sustainable practices within the chemical engineering program. This work will contribute to improved student learning, the reduction of waste generated and energy consumed within teaching laboratories, and the optimization of resources used in these spaces. Experiments, manuals, and laboratory practices developed through this project will be tested and implemented to create long-term environmental value on campus. The project will focus on identifying and integrating solutions that are both financially feasible and environmentally beneficial. Responsibilities will also include supporting the development of an educational framework to promote the adoption of sustainable laboratory practices across the university. Project outcomes may be disseminated to the broader scientific community and will contribute to sustainability education and awareness efforts in collaboration with UT Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and other campus organizations.
Responsibilities:- Modify existing experiment manuals, materials, and equipment in the lab spaces for CHE-253M and CHE-264 while studying methods to reuse waste, reduce energy consumption, and optimize use of resources within these lab
- Propose experimental solutions to redesign experiments and courses, revamp student experimental practices, and utilize lab resources more effectively
- Develop new processes and frameworks that can be practically applied in any teaching lab spaces
- Modify the courses and identify effective practices using these courses as a living lab to test and develop this project
- Test course updates (i.e., experiments) via direct measurements, LCAs, and financial analysis
- Create awareness of our efforts within our campus and externally through participation in campus fairs, collaborations with the Green Labs and Zero Waste Programs, and other scholarly products
Required Qualifications:
We are interested in hiring 1 Graduate Assistant (GA) with a commitment and interest in sustainability.
Student must be a current graduate student.
Students with the following academic backgrounds will be ideal to participate in this project: Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Energy and Earth Resources, Energy Management, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with STEM-related research laboratory work is preferred. Salary Range$30.00 hourly
Working Conditions:- All work will be completed within the chemical engineering teaching laboratory spaces associated with the courses CHE-253M and CHE-264.Required Materials
- Resume/CVLetter of interest
- Class Schedule
- Proposed work schedule
