The Desert Research Institute (DRI; www.dri.edu) is accepting applications for three Postdoctoral Fellowships in the area of hydrologic sciences supported by the Sulo and Aileen Maki Trust. Maki Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants with outstanding research and leadership potential in a broad range of topical areas related to water issues relevant to southern Nevada.

The Postdoctoral positions will be linked to existing research programs within DRI and can encompass, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Arid land agriculture
• Ecohydrology
• Hydrogeology
• Low temperature hydrogeochemistry
• Snow hydrology
• Surface water hydrology
• Soil and vadose zone processes
• Water (conservation) technology
• Water-Energy-Environment Nexus (including alternative energy)
• Wildfires and related hydrology

Candidates are encouraged to review DRI’s current hydrology research efforts at the DRI web site for Division of Hydrologic Sciences prior to submitting an application to ensure a link with an existing research activity. Candidates are directed to provide substantial information on how his or her research will be relevant to arid climate water issues, with an emphasis on southern Nevada. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in program development within the chosen focal area. Given satisfactory performance, and proven ability to generate research funding, it is anticipated that these positions could evolve into regular research faculty positions.

Each fellowship provides up to 2 years of salary coverage with the second year contingent upon successful progress in the first year. The positions will be located at DRI’s Las Vegas campus.

As the environmental research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), the Desert Research Institute conducts applied research on land, air and water quality across Nevada and world- wide. With more than 500 employees and main campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, DRI generates over $50 million in annual revenue. DRI faculty are untenured, entrepreneurial and responsible for their own salaries from external grants and contracts. This blend of academic rigor and private-sector pragmatism has earned DRI a reputation for delivering rapid, high-quality environmental science in a businesslike fashion.

Requirements:

• Ph.D. in an appropriate field of science or engineering from an accredited institution (completed by May 2014)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a research team; good interpersonal skills
• Ability to conceptualize and develop research proposals
• Ability to effectively analyze and report research findings to sponsors, at conferences, and in the scientific literature (clear written and spoken English)
• Research focus that is complementary with existing DRI programs
• Ability to conduct field work in southern Nevada