PhD Position in Satellite Precipitation Uncertainty Quantification and Physics-Informed Modeling University of Iowa in United States

PhD opportunity at the University of Iowa in the Derin Precipitation Lab, led by Dr. Yagmur Derin (Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering / IIHR–Hydroscience & Engineering). The project is centered on satellite precipitation uncertainty quantification, with a focus on developing physics-informed, nonparametric methods for products such as IMERG.

The successful student will work with large-scale atmospheric and remote sensing datasets, including satellite and radar precipitation, reanalysis data, and terrain/atmospheric information. Research themes include precipitation science, remote sensing, stochastic modeling, and multi-scale validation. The group also aims to develop open-source tools and contribute to peer-reviewed publications.

Required background includes a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Atmospheric Science, Hydrology, or a related field. Applicants should have strong quantitative and communication skills, and proficiency in Python or a similar scientific programming language. Interest in remote sensing, precipitation datasets, and statistical modeling is important. International applicants should have English proficiency test results available (e.g., TOEFL or IELTS).

This is a fully funded PhD position with a Fall 2026 start. Interested candidates should email Dr. Derin with a CV and a brief cover letter or research statement. The post does not specify a formal application portal, deadline date, or stipend amount.