Post Doctoral Associate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UVM

Position Details

Join a vibrant research community at the University of Vermont as a Postdoctoral Scholar. UVM is an R1 research university guided by Our Common Ground values that prioritize transdisciplinary research and collaboration.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law.

The University of Vermont is a welcoming, educationally purposeful community committed to creating an inclusive environment that embraces intellectual diversity and global perspectives. We seek to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct. Members of the University of Vermont community embrace and advance the values of Our Common Ground: Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Openness, Justice, and Responsibility.

Research Objectives

The project tests two central hypotheses: (1) that flood, droughts, and wildfires generate substantially different nutrient and emerging contaminant sources, sinks, and transport pathways compared to similar events in other seasons; and (2) that increasingly frequent floods alter watershed function in ways that reduce nutrient retention and other contaminants.

Responsibilities

• A central component of this work involves both laboratory and field validation of novel microsensors, which will be deployed alongside standard in-stream sensors and transitional grab-sampling methods.
• The Scholar will develop proficiency in operating a broad range of high-frequency sensing platforms and in analyzing large environmental datasets to generate insights into watershed functioning under changing climate scenarios.

Qualifications

• The candidates must have a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering or related field by the start date and demonstrate expertise in fabricating and testing microsensors for environmental contaminants in water and soil systems.
• Specifically, the position seeks candidates with a strong background in environmental engineering, electrochemistry, material science, environmental nanotechnology, and electronics focusing on in-situ chemical and physical sensing technologies, as is proficiency in advanced statistical analysis- particularly in R or similar- for interpreting large environmental datasets.
• Ideal candidates will have a robust publication record, experience with interdisciplinary projects, and a proven ability to foster inter-institutional collaborations.
• Additionally, they will have experience guiding undergraduate and graduate students on transformative research and high-impact journal publications, with a commitment to education, outreach, and collaborations.
• The candidate will have ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to diverse stakeholders.

Research Community

The successful candidate will join our cutting-edge, transdisciplinary research community (35 plus members from Vermont, South Dakota, and New Mexico) working across sensor development and distributed sensor networks, climate modeling, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Appointment

This is a one-year position with the possibility of a one-year extension contingent on satisfactory progress. The annual salary is competitive and commensurate with federal agency guidelines, accompanied by an excellent benefits (https://www.uvm.edu/hrs/postdoctoral-associates-fellows-overview).

Other Information

Support departmental initiatives, assist with occasional teaching or guest lecturing, serve on committees, or attend training sessions as appropriate.