BACKGROUND

A Research Associate (PDRA) position, funded by UKRI, is available for an outstanding and ambitious environmental modeler, geographical information scientist, environmental scientist, physical geographer, decision scientist, environmental engineer (or similar) to develop and implement decision support models for improved groundwater quality and remediation, particularly in the context of northern India and East Africa. This project aims to create a roadmap towards improved groundwater quality management in the context of the Global South by bringing together systematic approaches to improve the understanding of dominant groundwater processes and to support evidence-based decision-making for effective groundwater remediation. This position is part of a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project “AQUAROAD: Advancing Groundwater Quality in the Global South: Geochemical Processes, Remediation, Optimisation & Co-Designed Decision-Making Frameworks” (see: www.aquaroad.org and MR/Y016327/1).

The PDRA researcher will be based at The University of Manchester under the direct supervision of Dr Laura Richards (Department of Earth and Environmental Science, School of Natural Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering) but will also need to closely collaborate and/or liaise with project partners at The University of Manchester, nationally (University of Birmingham, University of Bath, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology), and internationally (Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Mbarara University of Science & Technology, KTH, University of Melbourne, University of Heidelberg) as necessary. Relevant key Manchester/UK working contacts will include Prof Jonathan Huck, Prof Julien Harou, Prof Jian-Bo Yang, Prof David Polya, Prof Alison Browne (all University of Manchester) and other CoIs.
The applicant should have, or be working towards, a PhD or equivalent in environmental modelling, geographical information science, (computational) environmental science, (computational) physical geography, (computational) environmental/water engineering, decision science or similar. The candidate should be competent in designing and implementing statistical modelling packages and programming, including based on approaches such as machine learning, agent-based modelling and multi-criteria decision analysis. Excellent scientific writing, team work, organisational skills and communication skills with a range of stakeholders are essential for this project. The candidate should be capable of working under their own initiative, effectively working with project partners and collaborators and co-supervising project/research (e.g. MSc, MEng) students.
The PDRA is responsible to collaborate with AQUAROAD partners to: (i) design, develop and implement modelling-based decision-support tools based on approaches including machine learning, agent-based modelling and multi-criteria decision analysis to address project research questions and objectives; (ii) analyse and critically interpret data and model outputs, including with regard to uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, to address project research questions; (iii) input into the co-design of field-based programmes to strengthen alignment of primary data collection with modelling requirements; and (iv) co-develop materials and contribute to knowledge exchange with relevant stakeholders to underpin the development of potential future impact arising from the project. The PDRA will be required to fully and clearly document procedures and methodologies, including uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, and to write or substantively contribute to the writing of progress reports, scientific papers and other relevant outputs for publication and dissemination.
Please see the Further Particulars document which includes (i) Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties and (ii) the Person Specification criteria (essential and desirable). Competitive applications must clearly demonstrate how person specifications are met. Please also see the AQUAROAD website for further project details: www.aquaroad.org