Job Details

Type: Full-Time

Salary: $58,656 per year

Posted: 07/18/2025

Category: Agricultural Engineering

Job ID: 536395

About the Position

The University of Florida (UF) invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), Homestead, FL, within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).

This position supports a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project focused on evaluating coastal groundwater flooding and saltwater intrusion risks in Southeast Florida, while advancing nature-based mitigation strategies.

Position Duration: 3 years (September 2025 – August 2028)

Project Overview

The project, "Safeguarding U.S. Coastal Groundwater Supplies from Flooding and Saltwater Intrusion," aims to address growing risks of groundwater flooding and saltwater intrusion in coastal urban regions.
The Postdoctoral Associate will lead modeling and scenario analysis efforts, contributing to the development of decision-support tools that inform coastal planning and resilience strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and calibrate integrated groundwater models simulating coastal responses to sea-level rise, storm surge, and urbanization.

• Lead creation of future scenario projections and evaluate mitigation options (e.g., green infrastructure, mangrove restoration).

• Collaborate across disciplines—hydrology, economics, geochemistry, soil science, and urban planning.

• Develop a stakeholder-driven decision-support tool with a graphical user interface.

• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at national conferences.

• Coordinate workshops and stakeholder meetings with regional and local partners.

Benefits & Support

• Annual salary: $58,656 + fringe benefits

• Participation in a nationally funded, high-impact project addressing real-world climate challenges.

• Collaboration with an interdisciplinary team across hydrology, ecology, economics, and engineering.

• Engagement with community stakeholders and local agencies.

• Contribution to decision-support tools shaping future coastal resilience policy.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental, or Agricultural Engineering, Hydrology, Earth Sciences, or a related field.

• Expertise in numerical groundwater modeling (e.g., MODFLOW).

• Experience with scenario development and model-based environmental analysis.

• Proficiency in Python, R, and GIS/geospatial analysis.

• Record of peer-reviewed publications.

• Strong independent research and collaboration skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Commitment to the mission and core values of the Land-Grant university system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in coastal systems, sea-level rise modeling, or saltwater intrusion studies.

• Familiarity with graphical interface development for decision tools.

• Experience working with large 3D geospatial datasets.

• Demonstrated success in stakeholder collaboration and outreach.

About the University

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution with over 56,000 students. UF/IFAS includes 16 academic departments, 12 Research and Education Centers, and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service in all 67 counties.

UF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and one of the nation’s leading agricultural and natural resources research organizations.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online:
🔗 Apply Here

Include the following:

1. One-page cover letter describing qualifications and interest.

2. Curriculum vitae.

3. Contact information for three references.

Deadline: July 25, 2025 (11:55 p.m. Eastern Time)
Selected candidates will provide official transcripts upon hire.

Additional Information

• Health Assessment: Not required

• Location: Homestead, FL

• Advertised: July 10, 2025

• Equal Opportunity: UF is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and values diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

For disability accommodations, call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD).