Undergraduate Research Assistant – Exposures & Health Team (RAPID Facility)

Undergraduate Research Assistant – Exposures & Health Instrumentation (RAPID Facility)

Location: UW Seattle (In person; occasional field travel possible)

June 2026 (ASAP) to Sept 30, 2026 | 30-40 hours/week | $22.65/hr

Possible extension to the 2026-2027 Academic year at 6-10 hrs/week

The UW RAPID Facility, part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is seeking one undergraduate student for a paid research position assisting our expanding Exposures and Health (E&H) team.

You will support field-deployable research on environmental exposures after disasters by keeping E&H instrumentation deployment-ready, improving workflows, and organizing data and documentation. This role focuses on heat exposure and high-temperature environments, including UAS-based thermal mapping, integration of thermal payloads, and development of wearable and sensor systems for heat detection and personal exposure tracking. If you do not already hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate, you will have the opportunity to obtain it with RAPID E&H support.

This role is well suited for students interested in drones, sensors, or hardware development in addition to health. It is a good fit for students who like hands-on technical work and want practical experience with field instrumentation, not a desk-only role.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct thermal mapping research and support development of repeatable UAS workflows, including setup, troubleshooting, documentation, data organization, and post-processing
• Evaluate and integrate thermal UAS payloads, including bench testing and field-readiness checks
• Prepare drone sensor kits and pre-flight materials, flight participation depends on certification and project needs
• Support development and integration of heat exposure sensors and wearables (for example iButton systems), including configuration, data handling, and documentation
• Help develop and refine protocols for field sampling, instrument use, and processing workflows
• Maintain equipment readiness and storage in More Hall, and contribute to SOPs, checklists, and training materials for RAPID E&H equipment

You’re a Strong Candidate If You

• Are organized, detail-oriented, and curious about science, public health, and hands-on technical work
• Communicate effectively and enjoy teamwork as well as independent problem-solving
• Are comfortable adopting new systems or technologies on a short timeline
• Have basic computer skills (for example, Excel, Google Drive, Word)
• Can lift up to 35 lbs and navigate mild terrain when assisting in the field

Preferred Experience (Not Required)

• Prior experience working in a lab, maker space, or workshop environment
• Interest in heat exposure, environmental sampling, environmental health, or disaster research
• Experience creating instructional materials, checklists, SOPs, or user guides
• Familiarity with any of the following: thermal imaging, wearable sensor technology, drones, basic electronics, GIS, or imaging data processing (training provided if not)
• Basic Python experience is helpful for handling field and sensor data (for example, cleaning datasets, organizing files, plotting, and running simple QA checks)

What You’ll Gain

• Practical, hands-on experience with field-deployable scientific instrumentation used in disaster research
• Mentorship from faculty, engineers, and RAPID E&H research staff
• Opportunities to contribute to real-world deployments and exposure science
• A balanced experience blending technical skills, documentation, teamwork, and applied field research, applicable to graduate studies, industry, or future research roles
• Opportunity to obtain an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate with RAPID E&H support, if you do not already hold one

To Apply:

Submit on Handshake by Friday, May 8th, 2026:

• Resume (PDF)
• Your unofficial undergraduate transcript
• A short statement (under 200 words) describing your interest in the role and any relevant experience
   

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position will remain open until filled.

Learn more about RAPID at: www.uwrapid.org