Innovative, Climate-Resilient, and Cost-Effective Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems and Management in Rural Unincorporated Communities in the Alabama Black Belt
Cluster Hire | Funded Graduate Assistant Positions
Start date: Spring 2025 (preferred) or Fall 2025
Project Description:
This is a large-scale multi-institutional project that seeks to implement innovative, cost-effective, and climate-resilient decentralized wastewater treatment systems and management strategies in the rural Alabama Black Belt, supported by multi-faceted workforce development programs aimed at reducing GHG emissions, protecting human and environmental health, and improving economic development opportunities. The Black Belt communities suffer from the confluence of rural poverty, a lack of available sewer, and shrink-swell clay soils that preclude the use of affordable onsite wastewater technologies. Therefore, onsite wastewater failures and “straight pipes” (surface discharge of raw sewage from homes) are common.
The project brings together an interdisciplinary team with expertise in water sector treatment and management, engineering, climate resilience, public health, governance, social equity, and policy. Further details about this project are included in these links:
https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/community-change-grants-sel…
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-…
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-…
Position and Duties:
We seek to hire multiple graduate students (PhD and MS) to lead various aspects of this collaborative research effort between seven universities: Texas A&M University (Dr. Amal Bakchan), Princeton University (Dr. Jason Ren), University of Alabama (Dr. Mark Elliott), University of South Alabama (Dr. Kevin White), Auburn University (Dr. Mark Barnett), University of Alabama – Birmingham (Dr. Amy Chatham), and Arizona State University (Dr. Maura Allaire). The successful candidates will join one of these research labs, with the opportunity to collaborate with the research labs in other universities.
The successful candidates will contribute to the diverse components of the project in the broad areas of (1) evaluating and monitoring viable onsite climate-resilient wastewater treatment technologies, (2) evaluating and establishing appropriate responsible management and governance approaches for achieving systems sustainability, and (3) developing a robust climate-focused wastewater workforce development program. Activities could include field, laboratory, and modeling.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Operations Research, Construction Management, Environmental Economics, Geography, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise and interests in one or more of the following topic areas:
o Wastewater management, treatment, reuse, and resource recovery
o Assessment of GHG emissions from wastewater treatment systems
o Water/wastewater utility operation, management, governance, and finance
o Socio-technical infrastructure systems, climate resilience, social equity, and/or workforce development
o Various data analysis methods, such as network optimization, statistics, spatiotemporal data analytics, and/or qualitative analysis approaches
• Interest in and ability to learn and work on an interdisciplinary project.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Meeting the admission requirements at the respective institution.
• Experience conducting independent and/or collaborative research is a plus.
Application Instructions:
The positions will be funded through graduate research assistantships, providing stipend, tuition coverage, conference support, and benefits. Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2024, and continue until the positions are filled. To apply, all application material must be submitted as a single PDF through the following link:
https://forms.gle/AZm6uL3i8Ucn8gjWA.
The application packet should include (1) 1-2 pages statement of purpose, describing your interest in the position and relevant experience (be as specific as possible of how you would contribute to the ongoing research at the chosen research lab, considering the five topic areas mentioned above); (2) curriculum vitae (CV); (3) (un)official transcript(s); (4) standard testing scores (TOEFL for international students, GRE); and (5) writing sample(s) or past research publications.
Please contact Dr. Amal Bakchan (the project lead PI) at bakchanhiring@gmail.com for additional information about the positions, with the subject line “Prospective Graduate Student – Community Change Project”.