Research Associate in Civil and Environmental Engineering
About The Position
The University of Virginia's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a research effort focused on enhancing the resilience of decentralized wastewater systems in rural coastal communities. This position, funded by the University of Virginia Environmental Institute’s Climate Collaborative, addresses the increasing vulnerability of septic systems in coastal, rural areas due to climate-driven factors like rising groundwater, sea level rise, and intensified storms. The Postdoc will work within Dr. Shafiee-Jood’s research group, focusing on environmental sensing, hydrologic modeling, data science, and community-engaged research. The main objective is to develop a prototype monitoring and early warning system to predict septic system failures before they lead to wider environmental and public health issues. The role also involves creating decision-support tools for alternative wastewater solutions and actively engaging with communities and stakeholders, including local health agencies, planning organizations, and community members involved in a pilot monitoring program on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, environmental science, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
- Expertise in one or more of the following areas: Hydrologic or groundwater modeling, particularly in coastal or shallow aquifer settings; Environmental sensing, IoT systems, or sensor data management; Machine learning, AI, or data-driven approaches applied to environmental systems; Uncertainty quantification and risk assessment; Decision-support tools or geospatial analysis; Community-engaged or participatory research methods.
- Ability to conduct independent research.
- Ability to communicate effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
- Ability to work collaboratively with academic, government, and community partners.
- Comfort working at the interface of science and practice.
Nice To Haves
- Experience mentoring students is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development of a prototype monitoring and early warning system for septic system vulnerabilities, integrating sensor data, hydrologic signals, and data-driven modeling approaches.
- Contribute to the development of decision-support tools that help households and local governments evaluate and compare adaptive wastewater alternatives.
- Engage actively with local health agencies, planning organizations, and community members throughout all phases of the project to ensure research activities are grounded in community priorities and needs.
- Travel periodically to field sites on the Eastern Shore of Virginia to support monitoring deployment, data collection, and community engagement activities.
- Synthesize and disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations.
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and contribute to an inclusive and collaborative research environment.
- Contribute to proposal development and identification of new funding opportunities.
Benefits
- Information on benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA can be found at postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
