Research Associate - Water Resources Engineering

This position has an end date of December 31, 2028.

Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in the application of optimization algorithms for river basin planning and management. The selected research associate will work with a prominent irrigation district in Alberta to optimize daily reservoir operations (storage and releases) to meet irrigation demands, using a river basin management model called WEB.BM. WEB.BM is an optimization model that simulates river diversions, reservoir storage, and reservoir releases, subject to water licences and WCO/IFN constraints, to meet downstream water demands throughout the open water season. The ultimate goal of the project is to link WEB.BM and other software components with a SCADA data monitoring system to obtain full control and optimization of water balance throughout the district’s canal system, which involves both travel time and attenuation processes, in addition to optimal balancing of storage.

• The research associate will interact with researchers, modellers and practitioners in Optimal Solutions Ltd. and the irrigation district.
• The research associate will be expected to manage the day-to-day activities of the project in alignment with project objectives. Along these lines, the research associate will track project status and action items, help to meet project deadlines, and know when to escalate decisions and problems to the larger team.
• The research associate will help to organize regular meetings with the project team, where they will present research progress and results.
• The research associate will help to modify and apply the river basin simulation model to irrigation district operations. They will develop model scenarios and execute model simulations under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.
• The research associate will procure data from project partners and quality control the datasets. They will conduct advanced analysis of research data and model results.
• The research associate will summarize, analyze and organize model results for publication. They will participate in the writing of research papers and reports, the preparation of presentations and/or other publications. May be considered as a co-author or presenter, and may draft some papers as first author with the supervision of the principal investigator.

• PhD in civil/water resources engineering, computer science or mathematics.
• Expertise in river basin modelling of multi-purpose, multi-reservoir systems through mathematical optimization. Special emphasis on experience in addressing network flow constraints.
• Practical experience in use of mathematical models for decision-making in real-world systems.
• Familiarity with Alberta’s water rights allocation system, the SSARR river routing procedure, and the WEB.BM modelling platform are significant assets.
• Demonstrated scientific ability through publications in peer-reviewed journals and successful grant applications.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate research projects involving multiple researchers.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to work in a group environment, and a demonstrated interest in and capacity for interdisciplinary research.

Application Instructions

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This position offers a comprehensive benefits package with an annual salary range of $65,369 to $81,719.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by Schedule E of the Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.