Postdoc Aso

The appointee shall have received the doctorate in a field appropriate to the assigned duties and responsibilities.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

The University of Florida invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher to support a collaborative research project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project focuses on evaluating coastal groundwater flooding and saltwater intrusion risks in Southeast Florida, while advancing nature-based mitigation strategies. The successful candidate will help develop scenario-based groundwater models and contribute to a stakeholder-informed decision-support tool for coastal planning, using interdisciplinary methods that integrate hydrology, soil science, ecology, land use, and economics.

Location: Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), Homestead, FL
Position Duration: 3 years, September 2025 – August 2028

Project Overview

This project is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher to join a collaborative, interdisciplinary research team funded by the NSF. The project, “Safeguarding U.S. Coastal Groundwater Supplies from Flooding and Saltwater Intrusion,” aims to address growing risks of groundwater flooding and saltwater intrusion in coastal urban communities, with a focus on Southeast Florida.

This role will lead the development of groundwater modeling frameworks, future scenario projections, and evaluation of nature-based and infrastructure-based mitigation strategies. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a transformative project with direct applications in coastal planning and hazard mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and calibrate integrated groundwater models that simulate coastal hydraulic/hydrologic responses under sea-level rise, storm surge, and urbanization.
• Lead the creation of future scenario projections and evaluate mitigation strategies (e.g., green infrastructure, mangrove restoration, and their integration with gray infrastructure).
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members in hydrology, economics, geochemistry, soil and ecological sciences, and urban planning.
• Contribute to the development of a stakeholder-driven, user-friendly decision-support tool with a graphical user interface.
• Publish findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present results at national conferences.
• Plan and facilitate workshops and collaborative meetings with regional stakeholders and local government agencies.

Benefits and Support

• Annual salary of approximately $58,656 plus fringe benefits.
• Be part of a nationally funded, high-impact project addressing real-world climate and water challenges.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of scientists from hydrology, soil science, ecology, economics, and environmental engineering.
• Work directly with community stakeholders, municipal partners, and agency collaborators.
• Contribute to the development of decision-support tools that will help shape future coastal resilience strategies in Florida and beyond.

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students.  UF is a member of The Association of American Universities.  The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus.  UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine.  UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Annual salary of approximately $58,656

• Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Civil, Environmental, or Agricultural Engineering, Hydraulics/Hydrology, Earth Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in numerical groundwater modeling, particularly using MODFLOW.
• Demonstrated experience with scenario development and model-based analysis of environmental systems.
• Proficiency in programming or scripting languages (e.g., R, and Python), geospatial analysis, and GIS applications.
• Proven track record of publishing in reputable, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and work in interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values. 

• Familiarity with sea-level rise, groundwater flooding, saltwater intrusion, or urban hydrology in coastal systems.
• Experience in developing graphical user interfaces for decision support tools.
• Experience working with large geospatial datasets including 3-D modeling outputs.
• Proven ability to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams and engage effectively with stakeholders or agency partners.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
• One-page cover letter describing your qualifications and interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information, including email addresses, for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.