Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Researcher in Dynamic Modeling of Microbial Regrowth and Antimicrobial Resistance in Reclaimed Water for Irrigation Systems

Position Overview:

I (Avi Ostfeld, CEE, Technion) am seeking a highly skilled and motivated postdoctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary team working on advancing the mechanistic understanding of microbial regrowth and the fate of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARG) in reclaimed water used for agricultural irrigation. The researcher will focus on developing and applying dynamic models to link microbial dynamics to physicochemical water quality parameters in irrigation networks. This project will expand the capabilities of EPyT-C, an open-source Python package based on EPANET and EPANET-MSX, to simulate the transport, fate, and regrowth of pathogens in reclaimed water systems under dynamic (non-stationary) conditions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and enhance dynamic 1-D advective-dispersive-reactive models in cylindrical coordinates to simulate microbial regrowth, biofilm formation, and ARB/ARG fate in irrigation pipes.
• Expand the EPyT-C model to incorporate non-stationary conditions, with a focus on the impact of physicochemical parameters (e.g., temperature, pH, nutrient availability) on microbial dynamics in reclaimed water.
• Investigate and model the interactions between bulk-phase microorganisms, biofilm growth, and microbial attachment and detachment processes on pipe walls and soil surfaces.
• Quantify and simulate the effects of water age and preferential flow paths in subsurface systems on microbial attenuation and the persistence of antimicrobial resistance.
• Conducted numerical simulations and analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of water quality parameters in irrigation networks.
• Collaborate with experimental teams to validate model predictions with field data and laboratory experiments.
• Contribute to the development of management frameworks for reclaimed water quality in irrigation systems.
• Publish results in high-impact scientific journals and present findings at relevant conferences.

Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in environmental engineering, water quality modeling, microbiology, or a related field. Computer science, Electrical engineering, Data Science, and Mathematicians with excellent coding skills are also welcome.
• Strong expertise in dynamic modeling, particularly in advective-dispersive-reactive transport processes and microbial fate in water systems.
• Proficiency in Python programming, with experience using or extending models such as EPyT-C (or similar open-source water quality models).
• Solid understanding of microbial dynamics, biofilm formation, and microbial regrowth in reclaimed water systems.
• Experience in modeling complex water systems, including both bulk-phase and wall-phase interactions, as well as subsurface transport processes.
• Familiarity with microbial risk assessment, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and water quality parameters in irrigation systems.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with proficiency in numerical methods and simulation software (e.g., MATLAB, R, Python).
• Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to write scientific papers and present research findings.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with non-stationary modeling or dynamic systems.
• Familiarity with groundwater flow and solute transport modeling.
• Knowledge of water quality management in reclaimed water systems and irrigation networks.
• Background in microbial ecology and water microbiology.

What is Offered:

• An exciting research opportunity to advance the state-of-the-art in water quality modeling and microbial risk management.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge computational tools and contribute to solving global challenges in water reuse and sustainability.
• A collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment with the potential to influence real-world water management practices.
• A monthly Post-Doc scholarship of 13000 New Israeli Shekels

Location:

The position is based in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Technion, with collaborative opportunities for fieldwork and model validation in urban and agricultural environments.

Start Date:

The position is available immediately.

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter describing your research interests, motivation for applying, and relevant experience.
• A current CV, including a list of publications.
• Contact information for at least two references who can speak to your academic and research qualifications.

Please submit applications via email to [email protected] Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.