Jobs:Job-01989
Apply before: 30 January 2026
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Posting:
Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship
Apply before: 30 January 2026
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This fellowship supports early-career scientists (post-PhD) whose work bridges rigorous academic research with real-world conservation practice. Fellows receive competitive funding, dedicated research support, and the opportunity to work closely with Penn faculty and TNC scientists on high-impact climate and sustainability challenges.
For the 2026 fellowship cycle, there are three project areas:
- Coastal Adaptation Strategies for Stability in the Global South (Project Area 1);
- Developing a Digital Twin of a Compound Flood Model for the City of Philadelphia (Project Area 2);
- Assessing Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Stormwater Quality (Project Area 3).
I’m highlighting Project Area 3 here because it is being supported by my research group and will appeal to those with interests in urban stormwater, water quality, and applied research that supports healthier waterways and communities.
Fellowship support includes:
$70,000 annual stipend plus benefits
$10,000 annual research fund
Up to $2,000 for professional travel
Up to two years of support
Project Area 3: Assessing the ability of green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions to manage nutrients, toxic elements and emerging contaminants in urban stormwater runoff
Emerging contaminants in stormwater runoff are a major component of Urban Stream Syndrome which is leading to the degradation of water quality and ecological function in urban waterways. Through the use of smart monitoring and advanced analytical techniques, this project aims to advance our understanding of the potential for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to remove emerging contaminants from urban runoff. Results from this research can help inform the design and management of GSI to maximize pollution reduction benefits and mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff on the health of urban watersheds.
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is an approach to managing stormwater runoff in ways that mimic the natural environment by using plants, soil, and stone to filter and absorb stormwater where it falls rather than diverting it directly into sewer systems. GSI, which includes practices such as bioretention, green roofs, constructed wetlands, and permeable pavement, has proven effective in reducing runoff volume and improving water quality by removing nutrients and sediments. However, its capacity to manage emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microplastics, as well as potentially toxic elements (e.g., lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and copper) has not been well studied. These pollutants pose ecological and human health risks even at trace levels, making it critical to understand their presence and movement within urban watersheds. This research will explore how GSI interacts with these contaminants and assess whether design modifications or operational strategies can enhance removal efficiency.
The project will evaluate GSI performance in removing nutrients, potentially toxic elements and emerging contaminants while integrating smart stormwater management technologies for real-time monitoring. Recognized as a national leader in GSI, the City of Philadelphia has installed more than 3,000 green stormwater management practices over the last two decades, allowing for ample opportunity for data gathering. TNC is a partner to the Philadelphia Water Department and has several projects already completed and in development that can be used for testing. Sensors and IoT-enabled platforms will be deployed to track water quality parameters, including nutrient concentrations and indicators of emerging contaminants, across different GSI installations. Field data will be complemented by laboratory analyses of water and soils using advanced techniques such as, ICP-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, and fluorescence spectroscopy to quantify contaminant levels and identify removal mechanisms and effectiveness. By combining GSI with smart monitoring and leading-edge analytical techniques, this research aims to develop adaptive management strategies that improve contaminant mitigation and inform future urban water infrastructure design.
The project will be a collaboration amongst various partners, including the BiCycles Lab at Penn (https://web.sas.upenn.edu/pennbiogeochem/), the Water Center at Penn, and The Nature Conservancy’s Pennsylvania & Delaware chapter.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete applications should be sent to pennfellowship@tnc.org by no later than 5 pm ET on January 30, 2026:
- Cover letter (limited to 1 page). Applicants should describe their research experience, interests in research and conservation, long-term career goals, and illustrate how their previous experience strengthens their ability to develop and implement the proposed research.
- Research proposal (limited to 2 pages; citations may be on a separate page). Applicants must engage in co-development of a research proposal with a Penn faculty member and a TNC scientist, and proof of co-development will be assessed during proposal review. Teams at TNC and Penn who are available to work with applicants, their contact information, and general research topics of interest are listed above. Be sure to copy Penn Fellowship at TNC (pennfellowship@tnc.org) on all your correspondence with prospective mentors, so that we may assist you in your collaboration as needed. The proposal should highlight the research question of interest, clearly articulate the research approach and methods, outline the project’s scientific significance, and demonstrate a clear potential for delivering results for The Nature Conservancy’s global priorities.
Curriculum Vitae
- The cover letter and research proposal must be standard letter-size page, 1-inch margins, and at least 11 pt font.
- The CV, proposal, and personal statement must be combined into one pdf file and emailed to pennfellowship@tnc.org by no later than 5 pm ET on January 30, 2026. Please use the subject “Postdoctoral Fellow Application [Your Name]” and name the pdf attachment “YourNameApplication.pdf”.
- Three letters of recommendation. One letter must be from the applicant’s thesis advisor and comment specifically on the applicant’s ability to learn from and contribute to a multi-disciplinary and collaborative research environment. The other two letters should be from individuals well acquainted with the applicant’s PhD research.
- A joint letter of support with mentoring plan from your proposed Penn and TNC mentors. Mentors should speak to the importance of the applicant’s proposed project to Penn and TNC, the role they will play in jointly mentoring the applicant through the project, and the leadership taken by the applicant in developing the research proposal.
Jon Hawkings (he/him/his)
Assistant Professor
Department of Earth and Environmental Science
University of Pennsylvania
Hayden Hall
240 South 33rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6316
hawkings@sas.upenn.edu
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