Sr. Research Scientist

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Job Title:

Sr. Research Scientist

Department:

FAES | Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

A Senior Research Scientist position is available in the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering (FABE) within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University (OSU).

The Senior Research Scientist will provide scientific leadership in a research program focused on hydrologic transport processes, transit time distributions (TTDs), and legacy phosphorus (P) dynamics in tile-drained and ditch-drained agricultural systems.

This position centers on advancing fundamental and applied understanding of how engineered drainage networks alter hydrologic flow paths, water residence times, and nutrient transport across field to watershed scales, with emphasis on intensively managed agricultural landscapes such as the Western Lake Erie Basin.

The Senior Research Scientist will be responsible for defining and leading innovative research directions, developing novel modeling and analytical frameworks, and integrating field experimentation, numerical modeling, and data-driven approaches to address complex environmental challenges. The role requires a high level of scientific creativity, independence, and leadership, with expectations to contribute to the development of new concepts, methods, and research frontiers with broad applicability.

The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping research priorities, leading proposal development, securing extramural funding, and building collaborative partnerships with academic institutions, agencies, and stakeholders at regional, national, and international levels.

This is a term position initially funded for approximately two years, with continuation contingent upon performance and success in securing additional external funding.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or a closely related field
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant research experience beyond the doctoral degree
• Demonstrated record of independent research, scientific innovation, and peer-reviewed publications
• Experience with hydrologic and/or water quality modeling frameworks (e.g., MODFLOW, MODPATH, SWAT, or similar tools)
• Strong analytical and computational skills, including proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or MATLAB

Desired Qualifications

• Expertise in subsurface drainage systems, agricultural hydrology, and nutrient transport processes
• Experience in transit time analysis, tracer studies, or residence time modeling
• Demonstrated ability to develop novel modeling approaches or conceptual frameworks
• Record of leading or contributing to externally funded research projects, with potential to secure independent funding
• Experience integrating field data with modeling and data-driven approaches
• Proficiency in geospatial analysis tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)
• Evidence of scientific leadership and engagement in national or international research communities
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams

Supervision and Reporting

The Senior Research Scientist will report to Dr. Vinayak Shedekar, Assistant Professor in FABE and will exercise functional and administrative supervision over research staff and trainees as appropriate.

Location

The position is based in Columbus, Ohio. Hybrid or remote work arrangements may be considered as per guidance from OSU HR. Frequent in-person participation will be required for field activities, team coordination, and program integration. Must live in the State of Ohio to be remote/hybrid employee.

Additional Information:

Location:

Agricultural Engineering Building (0298)

Position Type:

Term (Fixed Term)

Scheduled Hours:

30

Shift:

First Shift

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