The School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona in cooperation with the USDA Southwest Watershed Research Center seeks a Research Scientist IV for a two-year project to assess the impacts of legacy earthen berms and stock tanks on ecohydrological processes and erosion in the southwestern United States. Berms and stock tanks are ubiquitous across the Southwest, where they were built for water access, forage production, and erosion prevention. However, their long-term impacts on ecosystem productivity, water balance, and erosion have not been fully explored. Preliminary findings suggest that many earthworks are poorly maintained, and earthworks may function in a very different manner than intended. It is essential for landscape managers to be aware of how legacy earthworks affect management options and landscape processes, and additional information on long-term earthwork impacts is needed to inform development of new earthworks.
The researcher will lead development of a suite of models that will be used to assess existing impacts of earthworks in the Southwest and evaluate potential impacts of new earthworks. These models will include impacts of earthworks on vegetation, downstream water budget, and erosion. Models will be developed both for scientific and management objectives, resulting in novel findings on the quantitative impacts of earthworks as well as novel tools for evaluating potential impacts for engineers designing new earthworks.
The researcher will pair modeling work with data analysis on a newly compiled database of legacy earthworks (berms and stock tanks) across Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico to quantify existing earthwork impacts on the landscape. The researcher will take advantage of remotely sensed data, LiDAR, and soils databases to develop an understanding of landscape conditions that drive positive vs negative impacts of earthworks long-term. The researcher will be expected to synthesize findings from models and data analysis to quantify the existing and potential impacts of earthworks on Southwest landscapes.
Responsibilities include: lead model design and development; data analysis; reporting of progress and key findings; scientific writing for publication of two or more peer-reviewed manuscripts; review results with managers and project scientists; develop tools appropriate for use by managers; meet with national NRCS staff to develop improved guidelines for berm construction and maintenance; and collaborate with USDA scientists to coordinate deliverables, assess the implications to the project, analyze the data, and provide recommendations for best practices and future use cases..
The selected candidate is required to have a PhD in hydrology, remote sensing, or a related field. The candidate should have strong communication skills, computational skills including statistical and quantitative analysis, and programming ability in python. Experience with Google Earth Engine, soil science, hydraulic engineering, rangeland vegetation, or hydrology is a bonus.
The position will be based at the USDA Agricultural Research Service office in Tucson, Arizona. For further information, please contact Dr. Dana Lapides (dana.lapides@usda.gov). Complete applications include a cover letter, CV, three references for solicitation of letters of recommendation, and a one-to-two page statement of professional interests. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
Application review will being October 6, 2025 and proceed until the positions are filled.
