Postdoctoral Scholar (Up to 2) - Groundwater Science and Policy

UC Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Santa Barbara invites applications for Postdoctoral Scholar positions in groundwater science and policy. The successful candidate will lead a substantial line of research within the Groundwater Research Hub, framing questions, assembling evidence, and driving work to publication and policy impact.

Collaboration with faculty and staff, mentoring of students, and engagement with state and federal agencies will be integral to the role, with opportunities for independent funding development.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent international degree; eligible by appointment date.
• Applicants should have a track record of peer-reviewed publications and ability to lead research.
• Strong programming and data-handling skills; experience with large datasets and reproducible workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead a substantial line of groundwater research from framing questions to publication.
• Assemble evidence and communicate findings to policy audiences when appropriate.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers and collaborate across disciplines.

Skills

Geospatial analysis

Policy evaluation

Reproducible research

Mentoring

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Scientific writing

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent international degree

Tools

R

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Position overview

Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar - Groundwater Science and Policy

Salary range: $71,491 - $85,736

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: January 1, 2027 or later. Start dates through Fall 2027 can be accommodated for the right candidate.

Position duration: Initial appointment of two years, renewable annually contingent on satisfactory performance and continued availability of funding, up to the maximum period of postdoctoral service permitted by University policy.

Application Window

Open date: October 5, 2026

Next review date: Sunday, Nov 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Nov 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Earth Research Institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara invites applications for one or more Postdoctoral Scholar positions in groundwater science and policy. The successful applicant will work with Professor Scott Jasechko and Professor Debra Perrone as part of the Groundwater Research Hub at UC Santa Barbara.

The Groundwater Research Hub is a new five-year research center that uses large observational datasets to characterize water stress and to evaluate the management and policy responses to it, connecting global evidence to local decisions. Alongside its research program, the Hub trains early-career scholar and works to move research findings into the hands of the people who make water decisions, in partnership with state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, journalists, and international organizations.

The successful applicant will lead a substantial line of research rather than execute a predefined plan: framing the question, assembling the evidence, and carrying the work through to publication and, where appropriate, to policy audiences. Depending on the applicant's strengths, the work may emphasize the physical behavior of aquifers under stress, quantitative evaluation of groundwater management and policy interventions, or the connection between the two. Specific research questions will be developed in conversation with the successful applicant.

The position includes support for conference travel and international collaboration, access to the Hub's groundwater data holdings and to staff data scientists, and structured mentoring toward research independence, including proposal development. Postdoctoral Scholars in the Hub are encouraged to develop their own funding and collaborations, and will have opportunities to mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in a Ph.D. or equivalent international degree-granting program at the time of application, in hydrology, hydrogeology, earth or environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, geography, environmental economics or policy, statistics or data science, or a closely related field.

Additional qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent international degree conferred by the date of appointment. Applicants must have sufficient remaining eligibility under University policy limiting total postdoctoral service across all institutions.

Preferred qualifications

• A record of peer-reviewed publication appropriate to career stage, with evidence of having led the work rather than only contributed to it.
• Fluency in at least one scientific programming language (R, Python, MATLAB) and demonstrated experience assembling or analyzing large or heterogeneous datasets.
• Research experience in groundwater, hydrogeology, or water resources.
• Experience with quantitative evaluation of policy or management interventions, including causal inference or comparative research designs.
• Experience with geospatial analysis.
• Demonstrated commitment to reproducible research practice, including version control, documented workflows, and public release of data or code.
  -Evidence of clear scientific writing, and of communicating research to non-specialist audiences such a policymakers, practitioners, or the media.
• Experience mentoring or supervising students or junior researchers.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within an interdisciplinary team spanning the natural sciences, law, policy.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - Maximum two pages, describing research to date, the research direction the applicant would pursue in this position, and fit with the Hub.
• Publications - Up to 2 representative publications or preprints (PDF), and a link to a public code or data repository (e.g., GitHub, Zenodo, HydroShare). (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-4 required (contact information only)

Applicants provide the names, affiliations, and email addresses of three references at the time of application. No letters are required to apply. Letters of recommendation will be requested only from the references of finalists, after the interview stage, and candidates will be notified before their references are contacted.

Help contact: [e-mail]

About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
• APM - 035: Affirmitive Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Job location

Santa Barbara County, CA