Job Description

The Institute of Water Research is seeking a qualified Postdoctoral Scholar to develop, test, and document an integrated modeling framework linking the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), MODFLOW, and the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP). The selected candidate will design and implement data-exchange interfaces among the models; synchronize simulation time steps and spatial units; transfer hydrologic flows, groundwater exchange, constituent loads, and mass fluxes; and develop preprocessing, postprocessing, calibration, and visualization workflows. The candidate will conduct model verification, sensitivity analysis, calibration, validation, performance evaluation, and troubleshooting. The position requires strong scientific programming and software-engineering skills, including experience with Fortran and Python and, preferably, C or C++, APIs, dynamic-link libraries, version control, Linux environments, and high-performance computing. The candidate will also prepare technical documentation, reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations and collaborate with an interdisciplinary research team.

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

Professional Misconduct Review

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Doctorate - Ph.D. degree in Civil, Environmental, Agricultural, or Biological Engineering; Hydrology; Water Resources; Computational Science; or a closely related field

Minimum Requirements

• Greater than one year of relevant and progressively responsible experience in hydrologic, groundwater, or water quality modeling and the development or integration of scientific models
• Demonstrated advanced programming skills in Fortran and Python, including experience reading, modifying, debugging, testing, and documenting scientific code
• Experience managing spatiotemporal model inputs and outputs and developing robust data-exchange, preprocessing, postprocessing, or model-coupling workflows
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively on interdisciplinary research, and fluency in English

Desired Qualifications

• Direct experience with SWAT, MODFLOW, and WASP, including experience coupling or exchanging data between at least two of these models
• Experience with C or C++, APIs, dynamic-link libraries, SQL, Git or other version-control systems, Linux, high-performance computing, parallel computing, or automated testing
• Experience with watershed processes, groundwater-surface-water interactions, contaminant or nutrient transport, in-stream water quality processes, and model mass-balance verification
• Experience with model calibration, sensitivity or uncertainty analysis, technical documentation, peer-reviewed publications, and collaborative software development

Required Application Materials

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for at least three references.

Special Instructions

For questions, please contact iwr@msu.edu. Applicants must submit their application through the MSU Careers portal.

Review of Applications Begins On

09/02/2026

Website

www.canr.msu.edu/iwr

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.