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Postdoctoral Scholar in Wastewater Treatment and Water Conservation
Position overview
Position title: Postdoctoral ScholarApplication Window
Open date: February 25, 2026
Next review date: Friday, Mar 13, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Monday, Mar 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
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.
Qualifications
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering or Chemical Engineering with laboratory experience.
Ideal applicants will also have experience conducting techno-economic analysis (TEA) of treatment trains, including CAPEX/OPEX estimation and sensitivity/uncertainty evaluation.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research
- 1-3 required (contact information only)
References may be contacted if in serious consideration
Help contact: melissac@seas.ucla.edu
About UCLA
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
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.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment