Jobs:Job-01777
Start reviewing process: 10 February 2025
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Posting:
Position: PhD Position
Start reviewing process: 10 February 2025
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Project Overview: The growth of urban areas exacerbates environmental challenges, notably flow regimes that can exacerbate flooding. Riparian floodplains are responsible for ecosystem services critical to flooding, urban heat, and environmental health. Alteration to the urban sediment load drives changes not only to the draining channels, but impacts the form and function of downstream floodplains. This investigation has implications for challenges such as flooding, contaminant transport, infrastructure stability, and optimizing floodplain ecosystem services is not possible without a fundamental understanding urban fluvial sediment dynamics.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct research on a local creek through some field sampling and laboratory testing
- Develop hydrologic and geomorphic models to integrate monitoring data
- Develop physics guided – machine learning models to describe hydraulics and sediment transport
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a closely related field.
- Strong interest in interdisciplinary research integrating technology, community needs, and policy.
- Experience or interest in AI applications, data science, and real-time monitoring systems.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with field sampling
- Experience with AI and machine learning applications in environmental systems.
Working at Villanova: The Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems (VCRWS), part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Villanova University, has the mission to engage with society to create resilient solutions to global water challenges. Villanova University is a national university with doctoral and master's programs. Aligning with Villanova’s mission veritas, unitas, and caritas, we value and seek to empower all members of our community to develop their potential, bring their full self to the goals of VCRWS, and engage in a community of inclusion. This mission is a common responsibility for all VCRWS members.
Benefits:
- Competitive stipend and tuition remission.
- Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary project with real-world impact.
- Mentorship and collaboration with leading experts in civil engineering, environmental science, computer science, urban planning, and policy.
- Potential for professional development, including conference presentations and publication opportunities.
This position offers the chance to engage in transformative research that combines technology, community empowerment, and environmental sustainability to improve urban stormwater solutions. If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact on urban environments through innovative engineering, I encourage you to apply!
To apply, please send a CV to Dr. Virginia Smith (virginia.smith@villanova.edu)
Virginia Smith
Associate Professor
