Position Details

Position Information

Internal Posting?

Posting Number
SP005330P

Position Title
Research Scientist I, Hydrogeology

Division/College
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Department
IWRRI

Location
Boise

Posting Context Statement

We invite applications from collaborative and innovative researchers committed to interdisciplinary approaches in water science and management. We are seeking a Research Scientist with expertise in hydrogeology and numerical groundwater flow modeling (including Modflow) with interests in co-production of research with a wide range of stakeholders and partners. This position is housed in IWRRI and is a non-tenure track research appointment with no formal teaching responsibilities.

Position Overview

Serves as an independent researcher, or a collaborator on a multi-scholar research initiative. May have lead responsibility for discrete components of a larger project under the general direction of a senior or principal researcher.

Duties may include:

• Perform complex scientific analyses
• Adjust experimental designs as necessary based on experimental data analysis
• Direct the development of recommendations for project solutions
• Perform peer review of scientific projects, studies, or applications and making recommendations
• Prepare peer reviewed publications or presentations
• Resolve complex project specific technical and regulatory issues
• Establish work priorities and performance standards, hiring, training, evaluating staff, assigning, and reviewing work
• May be responsible for technical project management to include developing the scope of work, budgeting, scheduling, reporting, implementing field projects, and approving scientific documents
• Other duties as assigned

Unit URL

https://iwrri.uidaho.edu/

Position Qualifications

Required Experience

• Three years of research experience related to the domain of this position

Required Education

• Doctoral Degree in Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Engineering, Environmental Science or other related discipline; Master's Degree plus an additional two years of research experience (5 years total) may be substituted for a Ph.D.

Required Other

• None

Additional Preferred

• Demonstrated expertise in hydrogeology, numerical groundwater flow modeling and experience developing MODFLOW models for groundwater systems
• Two years of experience beyond PhD, or MS with 4 years' experience
• Technical proficiency with quantitative data analytics and workflows (e.g. R, Python, GIS, Modflow, GitHub)
• Experience with experimental design and complex data analysis
• Demonstrating ability to work independently
• Experience conducting research across multiple disciplines and a record of success working effectively in collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including peer-reviewed journals and experience communicating with non-academic audiences
• Record of 2 or more lead-author publications in peer-reviewed journals

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• None

Degree Requirement
Listed degree qualification is required at time of application

Posting Information

FLSA Status
Exempt

Employee Category
Exempt

Pay Range
$90,000 annually or higher, commensurate with experience

Type of Appointment
Fiscal Year

FTE

1.0

Full Time/Part Time
Full Time

Funding
This position is contingent upon the continuation of work and/or funding.

A visa sponsorship is available for the position listed in this vacancy.
Yes

Posting Date
06/22/2026

Closing Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applications received by July 29, 2026, will receive first consideration.
Along with your online application, please provide:

• CV including contact information for 3 professional references
• 1-page Cover Letter describing your research interests, how you meet the required and preferred qualifications and how you envision contributing to the applied research mission of IWRRI
• A 1 paragraph response to the following questions: (upload as PDF to Other Document 1 field)
  
  
  • Please describe your experience developing a hydrogeologic model. In your response, outline the assumptions you typically make, the data sources you rely on, and the tools or software you use.

For questions, please contact:
Kendra Kaiser
Idaho Water Resources Research Institute
Email: [email protected]

Applicant Resources
https://www.uidaho.edu/human-resources/careers/applicant-resources

Background Check Statement

Applicants who are selected as final possible candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check.