Postdoctoral Research Associate in Watershed Hydrology and Water Quality

Iowa State University; Ames (IA); Presencial; USD 60.000 - 75.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Iowa State University’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance interdisciplinary work in watershed hydrology, agricultural water quality, and antimicrobial resistance in agricultural landscapes. The role emphasizes developing watershed models, deploying monitoring systems, and collaborating with diverse researchers.

The successful candidate will analyze large environmental datasets, publish in peer‑reviewed journals, and

Formación

• Ph.D. required in a relevant engineering or science field.
• Experience with watershed hydrology, AMR, environmental monitoring, agricultural water quality and SWAT+ or similar models.
• Proficiency in Python, R, MATLAB, SQL, or C++, handling large environmental datasets, QA/QC and data acquisition systems.

Responsabilidades

• Develop and apply watershed models to study hydrology and water quality.
• Deploy, operate, and maintain environmental monitoring systems.
• Analyze complex datasets and contribute to publications and proposals.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and engage with stakeholders across academia, government, and industry.

Conocimientos

Python

R

MATLAB

SQL

Data analysis

C++

Educación

Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Water Resources, Environmental Science, or related field

Herramientas

SWAT+ models

GIS software

Remote sensing data

Descripción del empleo

Position Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Watershed Hydrology and Water Quality

Appointment Type

Post Doc/Trainee

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct interdisciplinary research focused on watershed hydrology, agricultural water quality, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agricultural landscapes. The successful candidate will develop and apply watershed models, deploy and manage environmental monitoring systems, analyze complex datasets, and collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams to advance conservation and water quality solutions. This position offers opportunities to publish in peer-reviewed journals, contribute to proposal development, and engage with stakeholders across academic, governmental, and agricultural sectors.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Water Resources, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in watershed hydrology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environmental monitoring, agricultural water quality assessment, and the development, calibration, and application of SWAT+ or comparable watershed models.
• Experience with environmental data analysis and scientific programming (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB, SQL, or C++), large-scale environmental datasets, automated data processing and QA/QC procedures, and operation of environmental monitoring instrumentation and data acquisition systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GIS, remote sensing, geospatial analysis, GNSS/GPS technologies, or watershed-scale environmental modeling.
• Experience with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) sample collection, laboratory processing, and analysis of antibiotic resistance indicators.
• Experience integrating environmental monitoring data with machine learning, predictive analytics, or decision-support tools.
• Experience developing dashboards and data visualization platforms using Power BI, Tableau, R Shiny, Dash, Streamlit, or similar tools.
• Demonstrated experience managing large multidisciplinary environmental datasets and conducting advanced statistical, geospatial, and temporal analyses to support peer-reviewed publications, environmental reporting, grant-funded research, and stakeholder engagement.

Department/Program & College Description

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University advances innovative solutions to challenges involving agriculture, water resources, environmental sustainability, and biological systems. Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration, faculty, staff, and students develop technologies and management practices that improve the quality of life while safeguarding natural resources.

Department Unit/Website

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering - Graduate College

Why Choose Iowa State University?

• Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

Proposed Start Date: January 1, 2027

Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period

Time Type: Full time

Pay Grade: Post Docs

Original Posting Date: October 12, 2026

Posting Close Date: October 18, 2026

Job Requisition Number: R20068

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail] .

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.