Hydrogeology Lab Postdoc Search 2019

THREE WATER SUSTAINABILITY POSTDOC POSITIONS

**Michigan State University and the Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas**

Position 1: Groundwater Sustainability Pathways for the High Plains Aquifer

Seeking a postdoctoral scholar with a passion for groundwater sustainability and a penchant for thinking big to help envision a sustainable future for the High Plains Aquifer. The successful candidate will lead integrated land surface-groundwater modelling efforts to evaluate agricultural practices for the past and future of the High Plains Aquifer at multiple spatial and temporal scales. The postdoc will be based at the Kansas Geological Survey (University of Kansas) and have the opportunity to collaborate widely within multi-institution NSF INFEWS and USDA NIFA projects to produce high-impact research.

This position is funded for 2 years with the opportunity for extension pending performance and funding availability, and includes an annual research/travel budget to support professional development. The preferred start date is September 2019 with flexibility for the right candidate. For more information, please contact Sam Zipper (samzipper@ku.edu).

Full job posting: http://employment.ku.edu/staff/13903BR

Position 2: Food, Energy, and Water in the Amazon and Mekong River Basins

Seeking a postdoctoral scholar ready to take on large-scale modeling challenges in data-limited regions. The Amazon and Mekong River Basins are undergoing rapid hydrologic, climatic, and land use changes, affecting two of the world’s most important hydrologic systems and the people and ecosystems dependent upon them. The postdoc will lead integrated surface- and groundwater-modelling efforts at both watershed and regional basin scales to better understand these vital systems, and how they are affected directly by dams and indirectly via land use and climate changes. The successful candidate will interact with two large, interdisciplinary project teams including multiple US institutions as well as international collaborators.

This position is funded for 2 years with the opportunity for extension pending performance and funding availability. The start date for this position can be as early as May 2019, with flexibility for the right candidate. For more information, please contact David Hyndman (hyndman@msu.edu). For more information on the research group, please visit hydrogeology.msu.edu.

Position 3: Water, Agriculture, and Nutrients in the Great Lakes Basin and California Central Valley

Seeking a postdoctoral scholar eager to quantify the role of agricultural practices in water and nutrient cycling in diverse agricultural landscapes spanning the US and Canadian Great Lakes Basin, as well as California’s Central Valley. The postdoc will lead efforts to develop integrated surface- and groundwater-models for these two regions, and to integrate new capabilities into those models. In particular we are looking to add explicit nutrient cycling and transport, informed by existing nutrient surface application and statistical transport models. We are working in those regions with a variety of collaborators in disciplines including remote sensing, ecology, agronomy, sociology, and economics to better understand the role that agriculture plays in water resources.

Application Details and Required Qualifications

Common qualifications for all three positions include:

expertise in groundwater and/or land surface modelling;
ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
strong communication skills as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications/conference presentations; and
a water-related Ph.D. by the start date.

Experience with integrated models, GIS, and high-performance computing are considered a plus.

Unique qualifications by position include:

Position 1: Coding experience (any of Python, R, FORTRAN, MATLAB, C, etc.) is strongly desired, experience working in irrigated agricultural landscapes is a plus
Position 2: Coding experience (any of Python, R, FORTRAN, MATLAB, C, etc.) is required, knowledge of dam operations and management is a plus.
Position 3: Coding experience (any of Python, R, FORTRAN, MATLAB, C, etc.) is required, knowledge of irrigated agricultural landscapes and snow hydrology is a plus.

To apply, send Sam Zipper (samzipper@ku.edu) an email with the subject line ‘Water Postdoc’ and the following materials as a single PDF file:

Short (1-2 page) cover letter including which position(s) you would like to be considered for, why you are excited about them, and how you meet the qualifications.
Full CV.
Contact information for 3 references.

If you are interested in position 1, please also submit materials via the KU HR portal to http://employment.ku.edu/staff/13903BR – you can use the same cover letter for all 3 positions.

For full consideration, submit your application by April 15, but review of applications will continue until suitable candidates are found.

Michigan State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law and University policy.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY. http://policy.ku.edu/IOA/nondiscrimination