Post-Doctoral Research Associate: Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences - UTK (Hydrogeology)

Location: Primarily on campus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in Strong Hall; residence in Knoxville and in-person participation in departmental and lab activities are required. Remote work part of the time is acceptable.

Salary: $55,000–$60,000 per year

Company

A research university with a multidisciplinary Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and a computational hydrogeology lab focused on hydrology, geomorphology, and environmental research.

What you will do

• Conduct independent research on hydrogeologic and geomorphologic changes and their interactions across environments from headwaters to coasts.
• Apply remote sensing, process-based and statistical modeling, programming, and machine learning to hydrological research and big-data analysis.
• Develop research proposals and apply for external grants to support future work.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in collaboration with the principal investigator.
• Participate in seminars, group meetings, special events, and other departmental and lab activities.
• Optionally co-teach with the principal investigator and participate in fieldwork or physical experiments.

Requirements

• PhD in hydrology, geomorphology, or a related field; candidates completing their PhD by the end of Fall 2026 may apply.
• Research experience in hydrogeology and geomorphology.
• Publication record commensurate with career stage.
• Experience with remote sensing and hydrological modeling.
• Must reside in Knoxville and participate in person in campus, departmental, and lab activities.

Nice to have

• Grant-writing experience.
• Fieldwork experience.
• Academic teaching experience.
• Process-based modeling with HydroGeoSphere, MODFLOW, FEFLOW, DELFT3D, or similar tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Funding is guaranteed for six months.
• Departmental support is available for postdoctoral career planning and professional development.
• Professional development includes faculty meetings, seminar opportunities, and mentorship for the academic job market.
• Benefits and continued education, coaching, and training opportunities are available.
• The department emphasizes collaboration and communication across geology, paleontology, planetary, and environmental sciences.

Hiring process

• Submit a full CV with publications and conference presentations.
• Submit a research-vision statement of fewer than 250 words describing the first proposed project.
• For best consideration, apply before September 15, 2026.