Postdoctoral Researcher
Position Overview
The Civil. Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Kansas is seeking one postdoctoral researcher with education and experience related to extraction and analysis of satellite photos and their correlation with physical properties, as well as 2D hydraulic modeling in riverine systems. The position is full-time and on-site. The initial appointment would be for one year with the possibility of renewal for an additional year subject to department needs and funding availability.
A successful candidate will serve as a post-doctoral researcher with the Sediment Management Research Group at the University of Kansas, with research funded by the State of Kansas to determine environmentally-driven operational guidelines for a planned hydrosuction sediment removal system (HSRS) at John Redmond Lake. The HSRS will discharge sediment to the downstream Neosho River. The purpose of the research is to (1) determine the natural range of variability in sediment concentrations on the Neosho River at non-gaged locations via remotely-sensed satellite data and (2) determine flow/SSC release thresholds that will not result in deposition on three identified mussel beds. The post-doctoral researcher will collaborate with PIs John Shelley, Joshua Roundy, Tony Layzell, and Ted Harris.
A successful candidate will serve as a post-doctoral researcher with the Sediment Management Research Group at the University of Kansas, with research funded by the State of Kansas to determine environmentally-driven operational guidelines for a planned hydrosuction sediment removal system (HSRS) at John Redmond Lake. The HSRS will discharge sediment to the downstream Neosho River. The purpose of the research is to (1) determine the natural range of variability in sediment concentrations on the Neosho River at non-gaged locations via remotely-sensed satellite data and (2) determine flow/SSC release thresholds that will not result in deposition on three identified mussel beds. The post-doctoral researcher will collaborate with PIs John Shelley, Joshua Roundy, Tony Layzell, and Ted Harris.
Job Description
30%- Estimating suspended sediment concentration (SSC) from remotely-sensed data. Includes coding automatic satellite data extraction and analysis macros for multiple satellite data repositories and building regressions for SSC
30%- 2D hydrodynamic modeling of mussel bed sites with varying flow/suspended sediment concentrations
20% - Research proposal writing for extension of research as well as report/article writing for research presentations.
15%- Assisting with other research tasks related to reservoir and watershed sedimentation including data collection and installation of field sensors to support modeling.
5%- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and other tasks as assigned.
30%- 2D hydrodynamic modeling of mussel bed sites with varying flow/suspended sediment concentrations
20% - Research proposal writing for extension of research as well as report/article writing for research presentations.
15%- Assisting with other research tasks related to reservoir and watershed sedimentation including data collection and installation of field sensors to support modeling.
5%- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and other tasks as assigned.
Position Requirements
- The position is on-site but can include some telework, to be discussed with Dr. John Shelley and co-PIs.
- A U.S. driver’s license or ability to obtain one is required.
- Field work may require driving a motor vehicle, wading in river, kayaking, scaling river banks, carrying sediment samples, and other physical tasks.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Hydrologic Engineering, Remote Sensing, or closely related field.
- Demonstrated record of research, including publications and presentations on the topic of using satellite-based photos to estimate physical characteristics as evidenced in application materials.
- Demonstrated record of research or practical experience with 2D numerical modeling of river hydraulics as evidenced in application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proficiency in ArcPro and HEC-RAS 2D
- Experience with riverine data collection, including water level “hobo” meters and turbidity meters
- Demonstrated successful proposal writing
- Coursework and/or research experience with sediment measurement, sediment transport, and river geomorphology
Additional Candidate Instructions
Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered. A complete application includes:
- Online application form
- Resume or CV
- Cover letter
- Names and contact information for three professional references
Contact Information to Applicants
John Shelley, jshell81@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$69,000
Application Review Begins
Friday February 27, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Monday March 30, 2026