Location: Virginia Tech, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department (Blacksburg, VA)
Reporting PI: Dr. Landon Marston (email: lmarston@vt.edu)
Start Date: Summer/Fall 2023
Position Type: Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship
Required Qualifications: i) PhD in civil engineering, systems engineering, agricultural engineering, applied economics, natural resource management, hydrology, computer science, or related fields awarded no more than three years prior to the effective date of appointment; ii) Track record of conducting original research and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals; iii) Ability to work in a collaborative team setting, as well as an independent researcher; iv) Proficiency in oral and written communication in English.
Preferred Qualifications: i) Strong computational background and programming experience with applications in water resources; ii) Demonstrable experience with one or more of the following approaches or tools: agent-based modeling, network analysis (especially multi-layer networks), hydro-economic modeling, large-scale hydrologic modeling, integrated modeling, machine learning (including deep learning and physics-guided machine learning), data mining and analytics, game theory, system dynamics, mathematical programming, econometrics, and/or geospatial analysis (including experience with Google Earth Engine).
Project Responsibilities: This position is sponsored by Virginia Tech’s new, competitively awarded Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship, which seeks to strengthen the university’s ability to recruit outstanding, diverse postdoctoral associates. The candidate, in coordination with Dr. Marston, will have the ability to determine the scope of their postdoc project. Candidates will submit a short, three page proposal detailing their project. Submitted to the Office of Research and Innovation, proposals will be evaluated based on their potential to advance the independent research program of the postdoc, the potential to enhance the research program of the mentor, and alignment with university and sponsor research priorities. While the primary focus of this position is to conduct and disseminate research, the candidate will have opportunities to pursue additional career development activities, such as developing new research skills, establishing a professional network, proposal development, mentoring students, preparing research reports, and/or teaching. A mentoring plan will be developed between Dr. Marston and the candidate at the beginning of the position to determine which opportunities best align with the candidate’s career goals.
Additional Information: The position offers a two-year appointment with nationally competitive salaries and benefits, $10,000 for training and professional development-related expenses, and specialized mentoring and professional development opportunities. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with three review cycles annually. The next round of applications will be accepted until March 1, 2023. More details about Virginia Tech’s Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship can be found at https://www.research.vt.edu/about/postdoctoral-associates/virginia-tech-presidential-postdoctoral-fellowships.html.
If interested in this position: Email Landon Marston (lmarston@vt.edu) with your CV and a short description of your research interests and experience. Please also provide details on a potential project for your Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship application and how I could best help you in meeting your short-term and long-term career goals. More information about Dr. Marston and his research group can be found at his website, https://marstonresearchgroup.com/. Dr. Chris Smith (christsmith@vt.edu), the Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator, can answer additional questions regarding the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship application.