Fully Funded PhD Positions in Precipitation Science, Radar QPE, and Hydrologic Hazards at University of Iowa University of Iowa in United States

The Derin Precipitation Lab at the University of Iowa, led by Assistant Professor Yagmur Derin, is recruiting two fully funded PhD students for Fall 2026. The lab is part of the College of Engineering and collaborates with the Iowa Flood Center and IIHR Engineering Services. Research in the lab focuses on advancing precipitation science and addressing real-world hydrologic challenges, with an emphasis on radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), uncertainty-aware extremes, and scalable stochastic ensembles for flood and infrastructure-relevant decision-making.

Key research areas include radar-based QPE (retrieval, quality control, uncertainty), stochastic rainfall generation and downscaling (space–time structure, extremes), and the development of physically grounded and data-driven approaches that connect remote sensing with numerical modeling. The lab also works on precipitation uncertainty, extremes, and hazard applications such as flood risk and convective hazards.

Applicants should have a strong background in civil or environmental engineering, hydrology, atmospheric science, or related fields. Experience with radar QPE, stochastic modeling, remote sensing, or hydrologic modeling is preferred. Strong quantitative and programming skills are desirable. The positions are fully funded, covering tuition and providing a stipend through research assistantships.

To apply, interested candidates should contact Dr. Yagmur Derin via email with a CV and a brief statement of interest, review the Derin Precipitation Lab website for more details, and submit an application through the University of Iowa's graduate admissions portal. The application deadline is December 28, 2025.