Postdoctoral Research Opportunity in Hydrology

A research opportunity is currently available with the US Forest Service (USFS), Center for Integrated Forest Science. This opportunity will be located in either Research Triangle Park, North Carolina or College Station, Texas. 

Forest land use provides the most well-regulated and highest quality water among all other land uses. Climate change, invasive plants and pests, land use change, and population growth all have potential to exert extreme pressures on forested watersheds over the 21st century thereby limiting their ability to provide these ecosystem services. There are few places where these factors will come together to affect water resources to a higher degree than in areas that lie in the transition between wet and dry hydroclimatic settings such as in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Here water is already limited and shortages are becoming more frequent due to drought and increases in demand. In addition to shortages in the quantity of water, land use conversion from forest to other uses have degraded water quality and increased water treatment costs. It will be of critical importance to develop the capacity to examine and understand the linkage between multiple stressors and water resources at a range of scales through science-based modeling applications and tools.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will conduct hydrological research on water quantity and quality issues, especially as they relate to forest land management, land use, and climate change. The participant will study the linkage between forests and water resources across the southeastern US (with emphasis in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas) through data analysis and model development.

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of USFS contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend of $6,250, partial coverage (66% of total premium) of individual health insurance, and a travel stipend for attendance at project meetings and presentations at scientific conferences. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE. The appointment is full-time at USFS in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina or College Station, Texas, area. Participants do not become employees of USFS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals.

For more information about the USFS Research Participation Program, please visit the Program Website.

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Preferred skills: