We are creating an interdisciplinary cohort of PhD students and Postdoctoral Research Fellows to work across several institutions and topic areas to progress towards a global understanding for links between water infrastructure and aquatic ecosystems. The positions are offered by Cornell University (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering), the University of California, Santa Barbara (Environmental Studies Program/Bren School of the Environment), and the University of Maryland (Center for Global Sustainability) as part of an upcoming project that will develop a global, time-series dataset documenting the past and present evolution of riverine systems under human influence.
The project will reconstruct historical hydraulic infrastructure operations—including dams, wells, and diversions—at the global scale and quantify their influence on river discharge; assess the impacts of hydraulic infrastructure on sediment transport, water temperature, and biodiversity through time-varying indicators; characterize the uncertainty associated with all key variables in the dataset; and validate the dataset and explore policy implications in collaboration with regional partners worldwide.
Details for each available position are provided below, with roles tailored to one or more of the thematic areas outlined above.
PhD Position (Cornell University)
About the research. Dr. Galelli’s Critical Infrastructure Systems Lab offers one PhD position in areas broadly related to the representation of human actions in global hydrologic models. Potential topics of research include (but are not limited to): (1) Estimating reservoir storage dynamics at the global scale using satellite observations, geospatial datasets, and data-driven modeling approaches, (2) Reconstructing groundwater pumping and irrigation activities worldwide through the integration of remote sensing, agricultural statistics, and process-based modeling, and (3) Integrating human water-use datasets into a global hydrologic model, with an emphasis on understanding how human decisions influence water availability, extremes, and long-term trends.
Qualifications. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in engineering, environmental science, Earth sciences, applied mathematics, or a related field. A solid background in hydrology, statistics/probability, or optimization is desirable; some familiarity with remote-sensing data or geospatial analysis is an advantage. Candidates should have basic programming skills (preferably in Python), with additional experience in scientific computing or data analysis considered a plus. No applicant is expected to meet all criteria, but strong quantitative skills and motivation to learn are essential.
Terms of Appointment. The position includes full tuition fees and competitive compensation.
Application procedure. Applications should be submitted online, following the guidelines provided by Cornell University Graduate School. Questions can be directed to Dr. Stefano Galelli.
