Why Work at BYU
As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University’s Mission: “To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”
Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth—all situated within a beautiful and historic campus—make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work.
Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Job Description
Research Scientist (TEMPORARY)
We are seeking a half-time Research Associate with a master’s or doctoral degree to support targeted research related to water marketing, water banking, and lake evaporation dynamics in the Great Salt Lake watershed. This position will help evaluate untested assumptions in current water policy scenarios, identify implementation barriers, and fill critical gaps in the water budget by focusing on lake evaporation dynamics. Improved understanding of water loss through evapotranspiration will inform not only hydrologic models but also predictions of salinity change, weand habitat loss, and broader ecological impacts to lake-dependent biota. This is a temporary position from 9/2/2025 to 2/27/2026.
What you’ll do in this position:
- Quantify evaporation from Great Salt Lake at varying lake levels using remote sensing, pan evaporation, or eddy covariance approaches to develop a model that can be integrated into the lake water budget.
- Evaluate residence time and storage capacity of lake water under projected climate and water use scenarios.
- Assess existing water marketing and water banking scenarios and identify unaddressed legal, economic, and institutional barriers to implementation.
- Review and synthesize feedback from stakeholders to evaluate the real-world feasibility and risks of proposed market-based conservation strategies.
- Draft technical memos, visual summaries, and presentations for use in public meetings, policy forums, and collaborative workshops.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary faculty, postdocs, and stakeholders to translate findings into actionable insights.
What qualifies you for this role:
Required
- MS or PhD in hydrology, civil/environmental engineering, environmental science, aquatic biology, water policy, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in hydrologic modeling, evapotranspiration analysis, water rights/policy, or resource economics.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- A strong commitment to the mission and values of Brigham Young University, including a willingness to contribute to a scholarly community grounded in faith, integrity, and service.
Preferred
- Familiarity with western U.S. water systems and/or Great Salt lake preferred.
- Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to work independently.
Application Deadline: Friday, August 22nd, 2025
What we offer in return:
This position comes with fantastic benefits, including:
- Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
- Access to the library
- Free on-campus parking
- Free UTA pass
- Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU
Pay Grade: 50
Typical Starting Pay: $24.50 to $31.75 an hour
Required Documents:
All Staff positions require a resume.
Refer to the Job Posting for any additional required documents.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Brigham Young University (BYU) is widely recognized not just for its world-class education, but for its deep commitment to inspired religious values. Gathered together in a Christ-centered atmosphere, BYU employees are a vital part of a community of belonging, where we value the experiences, perspectives, and talents of each individual. If you share in our devotion to faith and to excellence, we have a place for you here at BYU!
