Another long shot - any recent/soon-to-be grads in NC Smash looking for a bit of part time work? Have a friend looking for 16hrs/wk of soil science work at the EPA facility in RTP.
Bit of a long shot here, but any recent grads in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Duke Smash scenes looking for a travel job? Mechanical engineering background preferred, but general hands on skills and willingness to learn is fine.