Postdoc Position in Hydraulic Modeling

Penn State University; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Support for personal and professional well-being

Job summary

Penn State University is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar starting July 2026 to conduct research on roadway hydraulic structures using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in civil engineering, experience with computational modeling, and familiarity with flume experiments. Responsibilities include research tasks, data collection, and result analysis, all contributing to valuable guidance for practitioners.

This position includes a competitive benefits package and emphasizes the importance of belonging and equity within the university community.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in civil engineering or related fields with a focus on hydraulics.
• Prior experience with computational modeling and flume experiments.
• Experience with CFD software like OpenFOAM is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Carry out research tasks including literature survey and data collection.
• Conduct flume experiments and computational modeling.
• Analyze results and synthesize findings.

Skills

Computational modeling

Flume experiments

CFD software experience (OpenFOAM preferred)

Education

Ph.D. in civil engineering or related fields

Job description

## Postdoc Position in Hydraulic ModelingApplylocations: Penn State University Parktime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Yesterdayjob requisition id: REQ\_0000079302# **APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:*** ## CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants. **Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.**This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding. **POSITION SPECIFICS**The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University has a **Postdoctoral Scholar** opening starting in July 2026 (starting date negotiable, but preference will be given to candidates who can start at this time).This position is funded through a project to research on roadway hydraulic structure perform, such as culvert, through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and flume experiments. The product of this project will be used as a guidance for practitioners.**Job responsibility:**Under the guidance of the PI and collaborators from other university and industry, the major responsibility of the research associate is to carry out the research tasks in the project, which include literature survey, data collection, flume experiments, computational modeling, result analysis and synthesis, and report writing.**Requirements and qualifications:**Applicants should have a Ph.D. in civil engineering or related fields with a focus on hydraulics, environmental fluid mechanics, or water resources in general. The applicant must have prior experience with computational modeling and flume experiments. Experience with CFD software such as OpenFOAM is preferred, but not required.To be considered for this position or if you need more information, please contact Dr. Xiaofeng Liu ([e-mail]). Dr. Liu’s research group webpage: http://water.engr.psu.edu/liu/. **BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES**Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. **BENEFITS**Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.) **CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS**Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.**EEO IS THE LAW**Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.