Location: Corvallis, OR, USA (not remote eligible)
Start Date: Fall or Winter 2026
Position Overview: Dr. Kate Newhart, Assistant Professor in the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University, is seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join a funded research assistantship focused on advancing AI readiness and predictive modeling in water and wastewater treatment systems. This position is part of collaborative projects supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Water Research Foundation, aimed at developing data-driven solutions for utility operations, infrastructure resilience, and environmental compliance.
Research Focus: The selected candidate will contribute to:
- Assessing and enhancing data management and governance practices in water and wastewater utilities.
- Developing and applying machine learning and predictive analytics for operational optimization.
- Supporting the integration of AI tools into decision-making workflows.
- Collaborating with utilities, industry partners, and academic institutions across the U.S.
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. or M.S. in environmental engineering, data science, or a related field
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the most recent degree
- Demonstrated proficiency in technical writing
Preferred Experience:
- Familiarity with water/wastewater treatment processes or utility operations.
- Data analysis and machine learning in Python
Application Instructions:
- Complete this interest form provided by Dr. Newhart. (https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1HV8zUiW0gS8g0C)
- Apply through the OSU Graduate School portal for the PhD in Environmental Engineering program. (https://advanced.oregonstate.edu/portal/gr-app)
Facts about OSU:
- Top 1.4% university in the world
- More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined
- 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.
- 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color
- For more interesting facts about OSU visit: https://oregonstate.edu/about