Postdoctoral Scholar in Wastewater Treatment and Water Conservation Full-time

Postdoctoral Scholar in Wastewater Treatment and Water Conservation

We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UCLA to advance research on wastewater treatment performance and cost under evolving water conservation conditions.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering or Chemical Engineering and have demonstrated experience with wastewater treatment process development, operation, or modeling. Ideal applicants will also have experience conducting techno-economic analysis (TEA) of treatment trains, including CAPEX/OPEX estimation and sensitivity/uncertainty evaluation.

Core responsibilities include developing and applying process models to simulate wastewater treatment processes across a range of influent characteristics and flow regimes associated with varying water conservation scenarios. The postdoctoral scholar will quantify how conservation-driven shifts (e.g., reduced flows, increased strength, altered nutrient loads) affect unit process performance, energy and chemical demands, and overall system costs. The position will involve integrating performance models with cost frameworks to identify key drivers, tradeoffs, and pathways for resilient, cost-effective treatment under future conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will also disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations, and collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and external partners to support proposal development and broader project goals.

Basic qualifications include a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering or Chemical Engineering with laboratory experience. Preferred qualifications include experience conducting techno-economic analysis (TEA) of treatment trains, including CAPEX/OPEX estimation and sensitivity/uncertainty evaluation.

Application requirements include a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and statement of research. References may be contacted if in serious consideration.

For more information, contact Melissa C. at melissac@seas.ucla.edu.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.