Postdoctoral Fellowship - Simulation of Human-Environmental Systems

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 2 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 30 Mar 2023

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Postdoctoral Fellowship - Simulation of Human-Environmental Systems
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202300428AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $55,000-$68,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date 04/10/2023
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 03/30/2023
Description of Work Unit
As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a land-grant institution, with enrollment of more than 33,000 students. CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program. CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $400 million in research funding annually, putting the university among top federally funded public universities without a medical school. Colorado’s Front Range is a high-tech hub with companies such as Woodward, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM, Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcomm, AMD, Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins.
Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It consistently ranks high on quality of life measures by numerous publications; see https://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awards for the complete list. The city offers a pleasant climate with excellent schools and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby. For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website: www.visitftcollins.com.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at CSU offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. Made up of 44 faculty members, 12 staff members, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 125 graduate students, ME is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and $11M in annual research funding provide groundbreaking opportunities focusing on health, materials, and energy, for graduate students to enhance their educational concentrations. Award-winning faculty offer industry and academic perspective, and equip each graduate with the tools needed to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. The Mechanical Engineering program at CSU includes majors in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering-Mechanical Engineering; both curriculum combine classroom learning with engineering practice. The Department recently added specialties for Aerospace Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, offering undergraduate concentrations, a graduate certificate, a Master of Engineering (M.E.) with specialization, and a Master of Science (M.S.) with a specialized master’s thesis. Our goal is to give our graduates the engineering skills they need to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. Our students are integral members of our research groups and their thesis and dissertation topics focus on cutting-edge research. Further information about the Department can be found at www.engr.colostate.edu/me/.
The Bond Research group investigates systems that integrate humans, energy, built environment, and natural environment, and the scholar will work in a team that combines investigators with engineering and social science.
Position Summary
The Bond Research Group at Colorado State University seeks a post-doctoral scholar to explore the dynamic nature of future technology that affects energy use, emissions, and well-being. If you become part of the team, you will have a strong quantitative background in modeling system dynamics or agent-based modeling, familiarity with reducing and exploring large data sets, and be comfortable with uncertainty.
This scholar will modify and develop numerical simulation tools to represent near-future transitions in the technology and infrastructure that govern emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants and contribute to varying facets of well-being. The scholar will work with a multidisciplinary team working on connecting household choices, well-being, and energy use with governance and perceptions. The scholar is expected to lead and publish their own investigations, as well as conducting model development with minimal oversight to achieve a defined purpose. The ideal candidate will be able to combine modeling approaches creatively and to optimize numerical methods to explore uncertainty. The candidate should also be comfortable exploring constraints and limitations beyond quantitative mechanisms.
This is a one-year appointment with the option to continue for a total of three years based on performance and funding. The working environment promotes continuous professional development for scholars of all levels.
Required Job Qualifications
  • PhD in engineering, operations research, or a related field requiring simulation of systems;
  • Expert knowledge of at least one programming language;
  • Strong interest in environmental health, public health, or public policy;
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and with a team;
  • Prior publication record (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles); and
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date; the department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Experience in system-dynamic or agent-based modeling;
  • Experience managing and exploring large data sets;
  • Demonstrated record of designing and documenting modular computer code and integration of novel inputs;
  • History of working within multidisciplinary teams;
  • Excellent skills in data visualization and presentation; and
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Diversity Statement
Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Research
Duty/Responsibility
  • Review existing literature and determine best practices;
  • Develop, modify, and integrate computer code for simulating dynamic systems;
  • Analyze simulation outcomes to explore hypotheses and draw inferences; and
  • Perform quality control on input data.
Percentage Of Time 70%
Job Duty Category Communication
Duty/Responsibility
  • Disseminate research findings in peer-reviewed literature, professional conferences, local workshops, and knowledge exchange with key stakeholders;
  • Present research plans and outcomes to multidisciplinary teams; and
  • Contribute data, graphics, and text for funding proposals.
Percentage Of Time 20%
Job Duty Category Mentoring
Duty/Responsibility
  • Work closely with Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants to prepare data sets for model input.
Percentage Of Time 10%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact Tami Bond, tami.bond@colostate.edu
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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