Research Associate in Water Resource Systems Modelling and Analysis

We are seeking to recruit an ambitious water resource systems modeller to join our team researching sustainable infrastructure and the management of natural resources. The systems modeller will join two interdisciplinary research projects. You will be managing your own academic research and administrative activities.

The MaRIUS project has developed new models, methodologies and datasets to enable drought risk management. A large ensemble of climate simulations (using the weather@home simulation system) was coupled with national hydrological modelling. A national water resource system model for England and Wales has been developed using the WATHNET modelling system. We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate who will work with us to generate innovative research results using the national WATHNET model and help to make the system available to practitioners in government and industry. You will be developing existing and developing new research methodologies and materials.

The Oxford Martin Programme on Transboundary Resource Management, is an ambitious programme that will use systems analysis of transboundary water and energy resources to support transboundary cooperation. Within this project you will quantify water and energy resource use in the lower Jordan river basin and use simplified systems models to explore future scenarios and options for sustainable resource management.

You must hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil or have equivalent research experience in a relevant subject, and excellent programming skills, demonstrated through the implementation of system models, and ideally experience of optimisation, distributed computing and visualisation. The successful applicant will also have a track record of success at designing and implementing innovative modelling solutions, application of their models to practical water resources systems and validation of the results. You will have a sound understanding of drought risk analysis, uncertainty analysis and decision analysis and preferably innovative experience of applying these methodologies in the context of water management and water infrastructure planning decisions. You will be expected to publish your research work in the international academic literature. You will participate enthusiastically in the multidisciplinary research consortium, including engagement with project stakeholders in government and industry, in the UK and the Middle East.