Current Employees:
If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click here to log in to Workday to use the internal application process. To learn how to apply for a faculty or staff position using the Career worklet, please review this tip sheet.
The Marine Geosciences Department at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth science has an exciting opportunity for a a full-time Senior Research Associate II for Prof. Sam Purkis Lab. The position is for at least one year.
Background: This project will study hydroclimate and watershed dynamics in the “NEOM” area which encompasses the mountainous region of the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. The past is highly relevant for modern climate change because it helps us to understand the mechanisms regulating climate and, therefore, to correctly attribute the relative importance of the many factors contributing to climate change, including natural and anthropogenic forces.
Key in the Middle East is the trajectory of increased temperature and aridity, interspersed with an increasing frequency of extreme weather – specifically winter rain/flood events. These extreme events deliver copious quantities of sediment onto nearshore reefs via wadi networks. Since sediment stifles reefs, understanding the frequency of extreme weather is crucial for understanding the spatial distribution of reef resilience, but will also yield important lessons for the urbanization of the Red Sea coastline with regard to the risk of flash floods.
In the spirit of ridge-to-reef, the project will consider the wadi network of the NEOM watershed. This network is key to understanding the movement of sediment into the coastal zone and the flood risk posed by high-magnitude low-frequency flood events.
The successful candidate must have a Master’s Degree in a relevant field and at least 1 year of work experience.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The candidate will:
- Use computer simulation to develop state-of-the-art watershed models for the NEOM area.
- Assist in the development of terrain models from remote sensing.
- Reconcile watershed models with modern flood records and those derived from seabed cores.
- Model runoff data and catchment parameters to generate flood-hazard susceptibility maps.
- Merge watershed results with hydrodynamic models to predict sediment movement and deposition in the coastal zone.
- Develop methods and models to assess sediment stress on coral reefs in the NEOM area.
- Write peer-reviewed publications, reports, and assist in the ideation of proposals.
I seek a highly numeric candidate and favorably view a background in remote sensing, GIS, and computer science. Key factors in my hiring decision will be creativity, motivation, and productivity.
For further information, contact Prof. Sam Purkis (spurkis@earth.miami.edu). Chair – Department of Marine Geosciences – Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami.
The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.
Job Status: Full time
Employee Type: Staff
Pay Grade: r8
