Research Scientist - National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering (NCCHE)

University of Mississippi • Oxford, MS

11d

About The Position

This position focuses on developing and maintaining computational and geospatial technologies that support agricultural watershed science, water quality assessment, dam-break flood modeling, risk evaluation, and emergency planning. The role emphasizes building decision-support systems and web-based tools, managing large environmental datasets, and enabling data-driven environmental management through advanced modeling, software engineering, and GIS/remote sensing workflows. It also includes supporting high-performance and Linux-based research computing environments, contributing to scientific communication (journal articles, technical reports, and conference presentations), and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders. In addition, the role supports grant proposal development and may include leading external research efforts.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Hydroscience and Engineering, or a closely related discipline. The PhD degree should be already received or about to be received at the end of the current semester.
• Experience in developing computational models, decision-support systems, and web-based tools for hydrologic, hydraulic, watershed, water quality, and environmental management.
• Experience in scientific programming (e.g., FORTRAN, C++, Python, R), software development, computer systems, and computational infrastructure for environmental and geospatial applications.
• Experience in geospatial analysis and environmental data management using GIS, remote sensing, spatial databases, and web-based geospatial technologies.
• Experience with database design, administration, and optimization, including PostgreSQL/PostGIS and large-scale spatial data processing.
• Experience in developing and deploying geospatial web services, map servers, and cloud- or cluster-based computing environments for environmental modeling and visualization.
• Experience with Linux system administration, high-performance computing (HPC), virtualization, automation, and research computing infrastructure.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills (both technical and non-technical).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in AIMS and/or DSS-WISE modeling and decision support systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational models, software tools, and web-based decision support systems for agricultural watershed processes, water quality assessment, dam-break flood modeling, risk assessment, and emergency planning.
• Develop and maintain scientific software, geospatial applications, databases, and computational workflows using programming languages such as FORTRAN, C++, Python, R, and related technologies.
• Design, develop, and maintain geospatial databases, web mapping applications, decision-support systems, and cloud- or cluster-based cyberinfrastructure to support environmental modeling, visualization, and data dissemination.
• Manage and process large environmental and hydrologic datasets using GIS, remote sensing, spatial databases, and geospatial analysis tools.
• Support high-performance computing, Linux-based research computing environments, automation workflows, and related computational infrastructure required for environmental modeling and data-intensive research.
• Participate in and lead external research grant proposal development.
• Participate in and lead peer-reviewed journal publications, technical reports, and scientific conference presentations.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for water resources and environmental management challenges.

Benefits

• The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree