"Postdoctoral Researcher - Automation for Small-Scale Water Treatment"

Postdoctoral Researcher - Automation for Small-Scale Water Treatment

The VersaWater collaboration, led by Cornell University and supported by the National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator program in Future Water Systems, is addressing the water and wastewater capacity needs of very small communities (<1000 persons) across the United States. VersaWater technologies are prefabricated, gravity-powered, and based on decades of applied research by the AguaClara program at Cornell and affiliated partners. Our modular drinking water plants reliably treat even muddy stormwaters and are designed for affordability, sustainability, and ease of operation.

We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to lead our automation efforts, making our technologies more operator-friendly, requiring less on-site time while ensuring safe, reliable performance of water infrastructure.

Key responsibilities:

• Automate coagulant dosing and water and gas flows in AguaClara treatment plants.
• Calibrate, test, and iterate the design of a next-generation turbidity meter (Arduino-based with radio communication to a central controller).
• Develop and validate calibration methods for new sensors for turbidity and existing commercial sensors.
• Explore high-frequency turbidity monitoring as a tool for assessing flocculation dynamics.
• Test and refine low-cost optical sensors, including a blue-light absorbance sensor for dissolved organic matter.
• Integrate sensor outputs into process control systems (stepper motor-driven coagulant dosing).

Desired qualifications:

• PhD in Environmental Engineering, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• Strong programming skills (Arduino, microcontrollers, embedded systems, data acquisition, and control systems).
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation, sensor calibration, and water quality monitoring.
• Familiarity with process control and water/wastewater treatment principles.
• Ability to work across disciplines, from bench-scale testing to system integration.
• Strong interest in developing affordable water treatment technologies for small communities.

The position will begin in January 2026. Initial appointment is 6 months, with continuation for an additional year contingent upon NSF funding in year two (18 months total funding).

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined by the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.

Application Materials Required:

to complete your application:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Graduate Transcripts (Un-Official)
• Three references (actual letters acceptable but not required, just names and email addresses )

Pay Range: $62,232.00 - $88,745.00

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline
• Unique applicable skills.