Post Doctoral Researcher

Department Contact: Carolina Mijares, (575) 646-4337 & mijares@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Hydrology to join an interdisciplinary research team focused on advancing science-based solutions for water resource management across New Mexico and the Southwest.

This position offers an opportunity to conduct applied and innovative research addressing water availability, drought resilience, groundwater and surface water systems, agricultural water management, climate variability, and integrated water resource management. The successful candidate will be part of an interdisciplinary team working alongside scientists, water managers, and community partners to better understand and address complex water challenges. Through collaboration with agricultural producers, Tribal Nations, acequia associations, irrigation districts, and government agencies, the researcher will help develop solutions that support sustainable water management and strengthen community water resilience.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will contribute to projects funded by the National Science Foundation, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA, and other state and federal sponsors. Research activities integrate field observations, environmental monitoring, geospatial analysis, hydrologic modeling, data science, and stakeholder engagement to address complex water resource challenges and develop science-based decision-support tools.

The position provides opportunities to establish an independent research portfolio, publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and contribute to the development of competitive research proposals while working within a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment.

Position Details

Position Title: Postdoctoral Researcher

College/Division: Research, Creativity and ED

Department: 470500-WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon funding

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule:

Job Duties and Responsibilities: The Postdoctoral Researcher will work closely with the Principal Investigator and interdisciplinary research teams to advance innovative hydrologic research and support the Institute's sponsored research portfolio.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Conduct independent and collaborative research addressing hydrology, water resources, and integrated environmental systems.

Design, implement, and evaluate research methodologies using field observations, environmental monitoring, hydrologic analyses, geospatial technologies, and quantitative approaches.

Analyze and synthesize hydrologic, climatic, environmental, and geospatial datasets to improve understanding of water systems and water resource management.

Develop and apply analytical tools, models, and visualization techniques that support scientific discovery and informed decision-making.

Collaborate with faculty, researchers, students, community partners, and government agencies to address complex water resource challenges.

Mentor graduate students participating in research projects and provide technical guidance as appropriate.

Prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, and outreach materials for scientific, agency, and stakeholder audiences.

Present research findings at scientific conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings.

Contribute to the preparation and submission of competitive research proposals to federal and state funding agencies.

Support interdisciplinary collaborations that advance NM WRRI's mission of improving water resource management and resilience.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas are encouraged to apply:

Hydrology and water resources science

Surface water and groundwater processes

Hydrologic and environmental modeling

GIS and geospatial analysis

Remote sensing applications

Scientific programming (Python, R, MATLAB, or similar)

Statistical analysis and data science

Climate and drought analysis

Water resource planning and decision-support tools

Integrated natural and human systems research

Community-engaged or stakeholder-driven research

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Produce high-quality peer-reviewed scholarly publications.

Participate in the preparation and submission of competitive research proposals.

Present research findings at regional, national, and international scientific meetings.

Collaborate effectively across disciplines and with diverse stakeholders.

Travel as needed to support field research, project meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagement activities.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:
Required Education:Doctorate degree in related field.; Required Experience:No previous work experience required.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:

Equivalent Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

Special Certification/Licensure:

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.