Applications are invited for several postdoctoral research positions in the Water Reuse and Resource Recovery (ReWater) Center at the University of Southern California (USC). The ReWater Center in the Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been awarded a $4.3 M cooperative agreement for phase one of a three-phase $11.3 M program with the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL). The postdoctoral researchers will conduct research in the research groups of Amy Childress, Adam Smith, Dan McCurry, and Adam Simpson to address the multiple objectives of potable reuse: achieving constituent removals necessary for public health and the environment, reducing energy requirements, recovering resources from wastewater and residual streams.
Required qualifications:
• A Ph.D. in environmental engineering or a closely related discipline
• Evidence of scientific impact of PhD research (e.g., papers published in high-quality journals)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work as a leader and a team player in a collaborative environment
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in: membrane and other physicochemical materials and processes as well as system-scale evaluation (Childress); environmental biotechnologies for resource recovery, microbial ecology with an emphasis on antimicrobial resistance, and contaminants of emerging concern (Smith); environmental chemistry, removal and transformation of contaminants in water reuse systems, and analytical method development for identification and quantification of trace organic compounds in recycled water (McCurry); environmental organic chemistry, extraction and quantification of organic contaminants from complex matrices, and use of cellular assays to screen extracts for major toxicity drivers (Simpson).
Review of applications will begin July 5. The positions are available for multiple years; however, annual renewal is dependent on funding and progress made by the individual. Applicants should send an email to rewater@usc.edu with the subject line “Postdoc applicant” and include: (1) a cover letter stating how your skills and interests match the position description, the faculty member you would like to work with, and your career goals, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) names and contact information for three references.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is committed to enabling the success of dual career families and fosters a family-friendly environment. USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.