Postdoctoral Research Associate I

The Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Arizona invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position. This successful candidate will participate in an interdisciplinary project that aligns with the goals of the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to state-of-the-art research that integrates an innovative irrigated crop module into the USGS pywatershed-MODFLOW 6 framework. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in modeling the impact of extreme weather events on crop-water dynamics, improving irrigation forecasting, and contributing critical insights into water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate will work
in the SONG BIO-ESM lab and collaborate closely with a
team of experts from the University
of Arizona and Arizona State University. Key
responsibilities include:

• Advance the irrigated crops parameterization and irrigation water use in the USGS pywatershed-MODFLOW framework.
• Conduct model validation and assessment using multi-scale and multi-source fluxes data.
• Develop datasets to refine USGS water use estimates in the upper Colorado River Basin.
• Lead and contribute to academic publications, presentations, and educational outreach related to the project.
• Collaborate with USGS and CIROH communities to share insights and methodologies developed through the project.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Agriculture-hydrology-climate interaction: Strong understanding of crops-climate feedback, agricultural water resource management, hydrology, climate science, or a related field.
• Modeling skills: Proficiency in land surface modeling, terrestrial ecosystem modeling, or hydrologic modeling, with skills in data-model integration, model development, and application.
• Computational skills: Proficiency in computational programming (e.g., Fortran, python) in HPC environments.
• Artificial Intelligence knowledge: Proficiency in AI technology, with knowledge in applying AI methods for parameter optimization, will be considered a plus but not necessary.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a proven track record of scholarly publications relevant to the job responsibilities.

• Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences, Hydrology, Earth System Science,
  Environmental Engineering, Water Resource Management, or a closely related field.
  The selected candidate must have a conferred Ph.D. upon hire.

• A cover letter summarizing relevant research experience and interests.
  
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV).
  
• A sample of relevant scholarly work (e.g., a published paper or dissertation chapter) combined into one attachment.