Job Description

Position Summary

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University (MSU). Dr. Yadu Pokhrel will serve as the primary advisor. This is a one-year position renewed annually with an extension contingent on funding and performance.

The research associate will have the following responsibilities:

The new hire will work on a project that requires improving and executing multi-scale hydrological and hydrodynamic models (e.g., The Community Land Model version 5, CLM5, and CaMa-Flood) to assess the impacts of human activities (e.g., irrigation, groundwater pumping, and reservoir operation) on various water cycle processes, including nutrient transport. The new hire will be a key member of the project and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team within MSU and globally. The research associate will have opportunities to closely interact with a wide range of stakeholders and collaborators toward developing sustainable solutions for dam development and operation, irrigation, and groundwater use.

The research associate will particularly coordinate research activities and handle large datasets from multi-scale climate and hydrological modeling and socio-economic survey and analysis. The tasks will include high-resolution hydrological modeling using the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) at multiple scales. There will be close coordination with the social science team to utilize socio-economic data in driving the model and using outcomes to understand social dimensions of irrigation and groundwater use and their role in the Earth system. 

Dr. Pokhrel will work closely with the research associate in a collaborative lab environment to achieve project goals while providing ample opportunities and resources for the research associate to grow professionally and achieve career goals. The appointment will be initially for one year with the possibility of renewal for two additional years based on satisfactory performance and continuation of funding

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Engineering

Minimum Requirements

• PhD in civil, environmental, and/or related field.
• A demonstrable understanding of watershed hydrology and human impacts on water systems, evidenced by previous research outputs. Expertise in developing and working with high-resolution land surface modeling (CLM5 model) or global scale hydrodynamic model (CaMa-Flood), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data analysis and visualization, writing and modifying scientific code in Python and/or Fortran is required. A recent publication using these models is a plus.
• Be able to work independently and in collaboration with other researchers; publish findings in peer-reviewed journals; and write proposals and reports.
• Ability to handle and process large data on future climate and hydrologic projections.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• PhD in water resources, hydrology, earth science areas with experience.
• Excellent programming skills in Fortran and Python. Good command using Linux and parallel computing using high-performance computing systems, and ability to develop new codes and integrate those into the existing modeling systems.
• Strong interest in working with a trans-disciplinary team to address socio-economic issues, and to interact with relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to supervise graduate and undergraduate researchers.

Required Application Materials

* Cover Letter
* Resume
* Statement of research interests
* Statement of career goals
* List relevant publications
* 3 References with contact information

Review of Applications Begins On

07/10/2024

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

Department Statement

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community. By collaborating with faculty, staff, and students, the department develops programs and resources that support curricular and co-curricular success and prepare students for academic and professional achievement.

The CEE Department offers civil and environmental engineering degree programs specializing in structures, pavements, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, transportation, water resources, and energy/sustainability.

MSU's campus is park-like, featuring outlying research facilities and natural areas. It is located in East Lansing, next to the state capital, Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of approximately 541,000 and boasts excellent school systems and a strong emphasis on education.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

Connections working at Michigan State University

Job Tags

Fixed term contract, Remote job, Flexible hours,

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