Postdoctoral Fellow - Hydrodynamics

University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL, USA 🇺🇸

Pay Grade/Pay Range:  Minimum: $53,500 – Midpoint: $66,900 (Salaried E8)


Department/Organization: 750501 – Alabama Water Institute (AWI)


Normal Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm


Job Summary: The Postdoctoral Fellow provides for an internship and continuation of scholarly activity and research after achieving the PhD or other doctoral degree under the direction of a senior faculty member who serves as a mentor for the postdoctoral appointee.


Additional Department Summary: This position supports collaborative research between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Alabama focused on advancing new water observing technologies and using off-the-shelf technologies in new ways to improve the operational monitoring and understanding of water, soil, and sediment dynamics across critical environmental interfaces. The research addresses new non-contact observation techniques, overcoming challenges with water observations under extreme conditions, and other areas of emerging need. Applications of the technology advances are operational monitoring and scientific studies of how the human modification of landscapes affects water quantity, water quality, and sediment transport processes. This position will have access to to the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, a national hub for hydrologic instrumentation development, testing, training, and workforce development, in addition to advanced instrumentation, including recirculating flumes, velocity measurement systems, spectroscopic tools, and numerical modeling platforms, to test new instruments and new configurations of existing technology to investigate hydrologic and sediment processes.

This position works closely with USGS scientists, University faculty, and researchers in the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH). Contributes to applied research, technology advancement, research to applications translation, and scientific capacity building that supports nationwide water monitoring and modeling research programs. Helps incorporate research experiences into student education and practitioner training programs. Provides professional development through participation in seminars, workshops, and collaborative research activities within the USGS and CIROH networks.


Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. civil engineering, geography, electrical engineering, computer science, geoscience, or related field. Candidates will need to have completed their Ph.D. or have it completed by the start of employment.

Due to requirements of the funding source, must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident.


Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge of hydrologic, hydraulic, and sediment transport processes. Ability to collect, process, and analyze complex environmental datasets. Proficiency with scientific programming and data analysis software. Ability to prepare technical reports, manuscripts, and presentations. Knowledge of familiarity with laboratory and field safety protocols. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary research environments. Ability to manage research tasks and timelines independently.


Preferred Qualifications: Experience developing and testing water observation technologies. Experience deploying prototype technologies into laboratory and field experiment. Experience designing and conducting laboratory and field experiments. Experience with numerical and computational modeling of water and sediment systems. Experience with coupled hydrologic, hydrodynamic, hydraulic, or sediment transport modeling. Experience in federally funded or multi-institutional research projects. Record of peer-reviewed publications or technical reports. Experience working with advanced laboratory and field instrumentation in environmental or water-resources research. Experience with U.S. Geological Survey data standards, quality assurance practices, or monitoring programs. Experience mentoring graduate students or junior researchers.


Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.


Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.

REGISTER FOR JOB ALERTS:

First Name (required)Last Name (required)Email (required)Select from the lists below to receive information about specific jobs.

Finalize your job alert by selecting criteria from the dropdowns below. You can select multiple options from each dropdown by returning to the combobox and re-entering the list of options. Submit at the end to create your job alert.CategoriesCategoriesOtherResearch/Scientific

Other

Research/ScientificEmployment TypeEmployment TypeRegular Full-time (Benefits eligible)

Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)

EMAIL THIS JOB TO A FRIEND:

First Name (required)Last Name (required)Email (required)Friend’s Information

Please note- all Employment positions close at 10:55pm CST.

Non-Exempt positions are posted a minimum of 3 days. Exempt positions are posted a minimum of 7 days. Faculty positions are posted a minimum of 30 days.

12 days remaining

Apply by 21 June, 2026

POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development