Environmental Hydrology Research Associates
Openings at all levels, baccalaureate through postdoctoral
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
Anticipating how the aquatic health of the nation’s streams and rivers will evolve under changing land use and a shifting climate is at the forefront of problems being investigated by U.S. Geological Survey. Jud Harvey is a senior scientist with the USGS National Research Program and the supervisor for the “Hydroecology of Flowing Waters” team in Reston, VA. The team undertakes field and modeling studies to increase scientific understanding of flow and transport processes, aquatic metabolism, and naturally occurring processes of contaminant filtration in streams and rivers and their associated hyporheic, riparian, and floodplain environments. Current and past projects include conducting tracer studies of flow and dissolved and suspended particulate transport to evaluate effectiveness of best management practices in urban headwater streams, investigating phosphorus transport in restored flows of the Florida Everglades, modeling nitrate retention throughout the Mississippi River basin to improve strategies for managing its stream and river corridors, and understanding the natural attenuation processes in acidic mine drainage entering streams of the arid southwest.
Qualifications: Current search is for individuals at all levels, e.g. Ph.D., Masters, and Undergraduate degree holders in environmental sciences, civil engineering, geological sciences, ecology, or related sciences. Candidates should possess excellent verbal and analytical skills and experience relevant to hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, aquatic ecology, or related fields, and a high degree of self motivation. Candidates should have extensive familiarity with common software and analysis techniques including basic statistics. Additional training in one or more of the following, quantitative methods using advanced programming software, advanced laboratory and/or field methods, geographical information systems, and basic laboratory chemical analysis, is also highly desirable. Compensation is dependent on academic level and previous experience and skills.
Workplace and Supervision: USGS is the lead federal agency involved in research on environmental hydrology and aquatic ecology and its application to improved management of water and ecological resources. The national headquarters of the U.S. Geological Survey (and the location for these positions) is at 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192. Our “Hydroecology of Flowing Waters” team typically employs two to five associates working at several experience levels (baccalaureate through postdoctoral) in fieldwork, laboratory work, data analysis, writing, presentation at national and international scientific meetings, and publication of results in internationally recognized journals. Associates typically travel 3 – 6 times per year to collaborate with university and other agency scientists and to present research at scientific meetings.
How to Apply: Send email of interest and resume to Jud Harvey at jwharvey@usgs.gov.