Post Doctoral Research Associate - Civil Environ Construct Engineering

Lubbock

42763BR

Civil Environ Construct Engineering

Position Description

Performs specialized Post Doctoral work in the planning, conducting and/or supervision of original research. Responsible for participating in a research project associated with PhD studies and the interpretation of the results of publication. Work is performed under supervision of graduate faculty members with evaluation based on accomplishment of assigned objectives and overall effectiveness of project. May supervise research and student assistants.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock:Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock's Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the Department and/or College

The Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction Engineering (CECE) at Texas Tech University invites applicants for a Postdoctoral Associate focused on environmental chemistry and the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. This position will be funded by a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Specific research areas include PFAS leaching and mobility, plant uptake, and characterization of PFAS in agricultural products, and all projects in the lab include the development and use of PFAS. The candidate is expected to take a leadership role in the management and execution of these projects and join a diverse group of highly motivated graduate and undergraduate researchers focused on PFAS research.

The position will be housed in the TTU Experimental Sciences Building, which contains cutting-edge equipment, including HRMS instrumentation dedicated to PFAS analysis. More information about the department and the university is available at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ceweb/. Review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The initial period of the position will be 1-year with renewal based on successful research progress.

Major/Essential Functions

The primary responsibility of this position is to manage and perform research related to PFAS in the environment. Specific duties may include the following:

• Planning, conducting and/or supervision of original research such as laboratory fate and transport experiments, plant uptake experiments and development and application of HRMS analytical methods.
• Technical project management including project reporting, collaboration with internal and external project team members, and interface with program sponsors
• Assist with the management of an environmental chemistry laboratory
• Mentor and collaborate with graduate and undergraduate students
• Publish research findings in high quality journals
• Present work at national conferences
• Develop proposal writing skills

Required Qualifications

Candidates should possess a Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering or related field or have successfully defended their doctoral degree. Knowledge of modern research practices, the methods, resources, and standards thereof. Ability to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities. Ability to integrate resources, policies, and information for the determination of procedures, solutions and other outcomes. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with other employees and the public. Ability to plan and allocate the workload of employees, providing direct training and supervision as needed.

This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

• History of publication in highly ranked peer-reviewed journals related to environmental and water research
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Experience with independently planning and implementing plant uptake and laboratory fate and transport evaluations
• Experience with numerical modeling of saturated and unsaturated PFAS fate and transport at the laboratory and field level using packages such as HYDRUS or similar
• Experience in the operation and maintenance of liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry instruments.
• Experience with extraction and preparation of liquid, soil, biosolid, and plant samples for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• Experience in targeted and nontargeted analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with other employees, off-campus collaborators, and program sponsors.
• Experience with the extraction and preparation of liquid and solid samples for analysis
• Experience in R or Python, and geographic information systems (GIS) software (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS) a plus.

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

Yes

Required Attachments

Cover Letter, Resume / CV

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Job Family

Research

Job Sub Family

Researchers & Scientists

Annualized Pay Range

$48,000 - $63,700 - $78,400

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Shift

Day

Grant Funded?

Yes

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.