Postdoctoral Scholar in Tectonic Geomorphology

Penn State University • Ferguson Township, PA

2d

About The Position

A Postdoctoral Scholar Research position is available, starting July 1, 2026, in the Department of Geosciences at The Pennsylvania State University. The Postdoctoral Scholar will study the interaction of strike-slip faults, glacial erosion, and the evolution of topography in landscapes subjected to lateral tectonic motion. The project will involve conducting numerical experiments to explore the relative influences of fault slip rate, efficiency of glacial erosion, and climate change on the connectivity of glacial valley networks. Field work to validate experimental results may be undertaken. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work primarily with Eric Kirby to: 1. Implement a simple glacial valley erosion rule in numerical models of landscape evolution 2. Conduct numerical experiments to isolate the relative influence of erosional efficiency and tectonic slip rate in controlling landscape evolution 3. Compare results to field observations from selected strike-slip faults

Requirements

• strong background in geomorphology, structural geology and/or geodynamics, and expertise in scientific computing and landscape evolution modeling
• Candidates are required to have a Ph.D. (or have completed all the requirements by the time of appointment) in a relevant field (geology, geomorphology, or geodynamics) and demonstrated effective writing skills through high-quality reports and publications
• The successful candidate must be committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and diverse campus community

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working with strike-slip faults and translational tectonic settings is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Theoretical and numerical model development
• Presentation of results at scientific conferences
• Preparation of scientific publications
• Mentoring of junior researchers (graduate students and undergraduate students)

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees