Skip to main content

Project Scientist - CITRIS

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system’s 10 campuses and the first American research university built in the 21st century. With more than 7,500 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced offers an environment that combines a commitment to diversity, inclusion, collaboration and professional development. With bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships, and community involvement, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.

Ranked among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, UC Merced is uniquely equipped to provide educational opportunities to highly qualified students from the San Joaquin Valley and throughout California. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design, and supports the economic development of Merced and the region.

In Fall 2016, UC Merced broke ground on a $1.3 billion public-private partnership that is unprecedented in higher education. The Merced 2020 Project will nearly double the physical capacity of the campus by 2020, enhancing academic distinction, student success and research excellence. UC Merced is also building the Downtown Campus Center, a $33 million, three-story administrative building in the heart of Merced.

The Center of Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) is a fully functioning organized research unit with the University of California Merced and is recognized as one of the CITRIS campuses – UC Merced, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Santa Cruz. CITRIS at UC Merced addresses California’s most pressing societal and environmental problems by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and incorporating a convergence of student-driven initiatives, seed grants & faculty research, and corporate partnerships.

We are searching for a full-time Project Scientist to make significant and creative contributions to (a) develop and implement integrated watershed modeling approaches aimed at quantifying impacts to hydropower generation and operations, and downstream ecosystems, in response to changing climatic conditions, and (b) collaborate with a team of water resource engineers and watershed scientists to develop climate change adaptation strategies for California and potentially around the world.

The Project Scientist will engage in all aspects of study design and execution, including data acquisition; statistical analysis, modeling and interpretation of results; preparation of manuscripts, report, and proposal; and presentation of findings at conferences and outreach events. Other responsibilities extend to the occasional training of students and staff in the scientific method and specific modeling techniques. We aim to recruit an outstanding individual with the appropriate background/experience and creative energy to interact with our collaborators and work with minimal supervision. In the context of research, the candidate is expected to be familiar with mountain hydrology, hydropower research, climate change impacts, particularly in snow-dominated watersheds, environmental flows, and capable of leading authorship of scientific reports and journal articles.

The level (Assistant, Associate or Full) will be determined based on the final candidates experience and demonstrated significant, original and creative contributions to a research program. The successful candidate is required to have a Ph.D. degree in Civil & Environmental, Hydrology, or a related field prior to starting the position; be a highly self-motivated individual, with demonstrated ability to conduct scientific research independently and must have experience in developing, running and troubleshooting complex software code and in scripting using such tools as R, MatLab, and Python in the context of pre- and post-processing of model output. The candidate should be familiar with ESRI-based or other spatial/GIS software, and have experience and supporting publications in the scientific application of large watershed management models (e.g., WEAP, RVIC, Arc SWAT, HEC-RAS, etc.). Additional experience in environmental policy analysis is highly desirable.

Interested applicants are required to submit 1) a cover letter 2) curriculum vitae and 3) a list of three references with contact information including mailing address, phone number and e-mail address; submitted through the Recruit system.

Salary is based on the University of California Academic Salary Scales. Review of applications will begin immediately. Position is open until filled with a final closing date of April 2, 2018. Funding of this position is pending final approval. Starting dates are negotiable; the position is anticipated to be a year in duration based on funding and performance of the selected candidate.

The University of California, Merced is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity among its faculty, students and staff. The University is supportive of dual career couples.

Please contact Dr. Joshua Viers via email at jviers@ucmerced.edu for additional information.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Job location

Merced, CA