Human drawdown of reservoirs and uncertainty in future water supply put agricultural users, urban users, Tribal Nations, and ecosystems at risk of water shortages. Marginalized communities face disproportionate risks and limited ability to manage vulnerability due to inequities in access to water infrastructure and information. System goals to protect critical reservoir elevations conflict with user goals to sustain deliveries. User and ecosystem goals also conflict with each other. Our project goal is to apply immersive online collaborative modeling to adaptively manage massive infrastructure systems and reduce conflicting system, user, Tribal, and ecosystem vulnerabilities to water shortages. Within a model session, basin partners personify water users. They develop assumptions to define the user’s risk and articulate strategies to manage their vulnerabilities. Then they adapt strategies to manage vulnerability in response to their modeled available water, other’s choices, and real-time discussion of choices. We use discussion to understand why and how basin partners perceive risk and make decisions to manage vulnerability.

Find more information about the project and related research at http://rosenberg.usu.edu.

Questions about the position? Email david.rosenberg@usu.edu with the subject line “Question - Immersive Modeling Graduate Researcher Position”.

Successful applicants will:

• Guide immersive modeling sessions using existing models.
• Improve existing models in response to discussions with basin partners.
• Build new immersive models at spatial scales from individual users to transboundary (e.g., with Mexico and Tribal Nations). Guide their use.
• Collaborate with partners at Federal and State Agencies, Contractors, Tribal Nations, environmental non-governmental organizations, and researchers at sister universities.

• Motivated.
• Experience working with quantitative and qualitative data.
• Programming skills in an open-source language such as Python or R.
• Experience collecting, managing, synthesizing, and/or interpreting datasets that are Terabytes and larger.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to work with a diverse array of basin partners.

Before submitting your application, hold your own immersive model session.

1. Download an immersive model for Lake Mead based on the principle of divide reservoir inflow – here.
2. Move the model file into Google Drive.
3. Invite one or more collaborators, colleagues, friends, or family members to join.
4. Follow the remaining instructions on the ReadMe-Instructions worksheet.
5. Complete a model session in 1 to 2 hours.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume (up to 3 pages) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”.
2. Names and contact information of at least three references to be added to your Candidate Profile.
3. A 1-1.5 page cover letter addressed to Dr. David Rosenberg to be typed/pasted at the end of your application. In your cover letter, share:
   • Two or more insights for Colorado River management you gained during the model session.
   • One suggestion to improve the model or as follow-on research.
   • How you will advance the project and team goals to make research more actionable.
   • The date you can start work.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) at Utah State University has been a leader in water and environmental research for over 50 years. It is one of the first and largest university-based water research facilities in the United States and is considered one of the most respected facilities of its kind.

This 113,000 square foot university-based water and environmental research facility along the Logan River is a premier research location with unique capabilities to address critical and emerging water and environmental challenges, including:

• Two hydraulics laboratories for large-flow physical modeling.
• An environmental quality laboratory for chemistry and microbiology studies in water, soil, and air.
• Additional field and observatory sites in the Logan River watershed and throughout the western U.S.
• Staff expertise spanning a broad range of disciplines.

Instructions on how to apply to USU are available at the School of Graduate Studies. An English Proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS) may be required for international students. Additional information about USU and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 01/2025

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023