| POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I | |
|---|---|
| Posting Number | req7229 |
| Department | Hydrology & Atmospheric Sci |
| Department Website Link | www.has.arizona.edu |
| Location | Main Campus |
| Address | Tucson, AZ USA |
| Position Highlights | The candidate will participate in an NSF-funded project on “Hydrologic closure relationships at different levels of hillslope model complexity”. This is a year-to-year appointment, contingent upon funding and performance. The project: • Addresses the challenge of predictions of subsurface water flow and solute transport at scales of hillslopes and catchments. Issues at these scales arise from unknown heterogeneity of subsurface properties and simplified representation of the flow and transport dynamics. Within hydrologic models these simplifications require closure relationships (representing the aggregated small-scale physics) that vary in time and space. • Aims to find and explain temporally changing closure relationships at the hillslope scale for two different levels of model complexity: (i) system-scale closure relationships, e.g., transit time distributions and the storage-discharge relationship, and (ii) simplified process-based representation of coupled unsaturated and saturated zone. • Will gain novel insights into the closure relationships, e.g., their temporal variability and their connection to other hydrologic variables, by combining recent methodological advances, namely (i) new data-based approaches to determine transit time distributions and the storage-discharge relationship, (ii) data assimilation, and (iii) machine learning methods. • Will utilize data collected from recent experiments at the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) hillslopes at Biosphere 2 and real-world data from a well-equipped zero-order basin. Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here. |
| Duties & Responsibilities | We seek an early career scientist with background in hydrology and numerical modeling to fill a position as Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. The Postdoctoral researcher will work on an NSF funded project, that aims at finding and explaining temporally changing hydrologic closure relationships for different levels of model complexity to make an important step towards an improved understanding of hydrology directly at the hillslope scale. The project will take advantage of the exceptional measurement capability of the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) hillslopes at Biosphere 2 and will gain novel insights into the closure relationships by combining recent methodological advances, namely (i) new data-based approaches to determine transit time distributions and the storage-discharge relationship, (ii) data assimilation, and (iii) machine learning methods.Modify and apply process-based models coupling unsaturated and saturated zone to the LEO hillslopes.Couple models to a data assimilation framework to track temporally changing closure relationships.Apply machine learning to learn the changing closure relationships and link to process understanding.Write scholarly publications and present at international conferences.Contribute to preparation of reports and proposals.Participate with supervision of students and teaching.Participate in outreach.Ability to communicate effectively. |
| Minimum Qualifications | A Ph.D. in Hydrology or related field. The selected candidate must have a conferred Ph.D. upon hire.Experience with peer-reviewed publications.Experience in innovative research. |
| Preferred Qualifications | Experience with vadose zone hydrology.Experience with process-based subsurface hydrologic modeling.Experience with data assimilation.Experience with machine learning.Experience with programming (such as Python, MATLAB). |
| FLSA | Exempt |
| Full Time/Part Time | Full Time |
| Number of Hours Worked per Week | 40 |
| Job FTE | 1.00 |
| Work Calendar | Fiscal |
| Job Category | Research |
| Benefits Eligible | Yes – Full Benefits |
| Rate of Pay | DOE |
| Compensation Type | salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE) |
| Type of criminal background check required: | Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive) |
| Number of Vacancies | 1 |
| Target Hire Date | 11/1/2021 |
| Expected End Date | |
| Contact Information for Candidates | Kathy Varin, Business Manager Senior [email protected] |
| Open Date | 10/12/2021 |
| Open Until Filled | Yes |
| Documents Needed to Apply | Curriculum Vitae (CV), Cover Letter, and One Additional Document |
| Special Instructions to Applicant | Please provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Cover Letter including research interests. In the Additional document slot provided, please include a requirement of three references. |
| Diversity Statement | At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. As an Hispanic-serving institution and a Native American/Alaska Native-serving institution, we translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues, and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. As an Employer of National Service, we also welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service programs and others who will help us advance our Inclusive Excellence initiative aimed at creating a university that values student, staff and faculty engagement in addressing issues of diversity and inclusiveness. |
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ, USA 🇺🇸
