Professor Andrew Fisher, in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for the position of Postdoctoral Scholar in Groundwater Recharge and Rivers, which will support California Climate Action research to investigate groundwater recharge and related processes associated with an ongoing flood-risk reduction project on the Pajaro River. This research links river and stream levee reconfiguration with potential for improvements to groundwater recharge, sediment transport and deposition, water quality, aquatic habitat, and flood-plain reconnection.

The Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at UCSC is a dynamic, welcoming, and highly interdisciplinary environment comprising approximately 25 faculty and numerous researchers and students with expertise across many components of Earth/Planetary Systems, including climate and atmospheric dynamics, shallow and deep geophysics, terrestrial and marine biogeochemical cycles, land surface processes, petrology and structural geology, and the cryosphere and sea level change. Earth and Planetary Sciences: https://eps.ucsc.edu/index.html

The successful candidate will have experience in, and will help to lead research in, one or more topics related to fresh water and climate change that may include:
• water quality of surface water and groundwater (especially nutrient reaction, transport, and fate) channel flows
• infiltration and groundwater recharge
• surface water - groundwater interactions
• use of heat as a tracer of fluid flow in groundwater systems
• links between these topics and sediment transport, flood risk reduction, riparian and flood plain habitat
• use of geographic information systems and multi-criteria decision analysis
• institutional/policy connections between these and related topics and incentives for sustaining freshwater resources

Work will involve stream gauging, water sampling and analysis, measurements and modeling of streambed seepage, and related studies as part of a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary team, including researchers, students, and others with UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, California State University Monterey Bay, the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Engineering with Nature), and the CA Department of Water Resources (among others). This project also includes technical and public engagement with diverse groups and individuals. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and a record of impactful research publications. Applicants with the applicable background to succeed in multiple project components (see topics listed above) are highly encouraged to apply.

UCSC is a world-leading public research university that sits on two thousand acres of redwood-forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay with one of the most visually spectacular settings in higher education. The University of California is known for offering competitive retirement savings, health and family benefits, and has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and diversity.

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.

All applications will be handled via UC Recruit, position JPF01594, https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01594

Basic qualifications:
Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in earth science, hydrology/hydrogeology, environmental science, environmental chemistry, water engineering, or related discipline. Note that degree must be in hand at the time of initial appointment.

Open date: August 25, 2023
Next review date: Monday, Sep 25, 2023
Anticipated start: As soon as possible after initial review of the applications.

NOTE: Applicants may also wish to consider applying for a UC Presidential Postdoc: https://ppfp.ucop.edu/info/documents/2024-25-call-for-applications.pdf