Yagmur Derin

The Derin Precipitation Lab at the University of Iowa is recruiting two fully funded PhD researchers for Fall 2026. The lab, led by Assistant Professor Yagmur Derin, is part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and focuses on advancing the quantitative understanding of precipitation and hydrologic hazards across scales and environments. Research areas include radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), uncertainty characterization, hydrologic applications, stochastic rainfall generation, and hazard applications such as flood risk and convective hazards. Students will engage in projects that bridge precipitation science and real-world hydrologic needs, developing physically grounded and data-driven approaches that connect remote sensing (satellite and radar) with numerical modeling and stochastic methods. The lab emphasizes radar QPE retrieval, quality control, uncertainty analysis, and the development of scalable ensemble tools for subseasonal-to-seasonal precipitation forecasts. Research also covers error mechanisms, regime dependence, and the creation of data-driven emulators for convective hazards. Applicants should have a strong background in civil or environmental engineering, earth science, or related fields. Experience with remote sensing, radar, numerical modeling, or stochastic methods is preferred. The positions are fully funded, including tuition and a stipend. Interested candidates should email Dr. Yagmur Derin with a single PDF containing their CV and a brief statement of purpose (maximum 2 pages) indicating interest in Track A and/or Track B. The review of applications will begin on February 1, 2026, and continue until the positions are filled. For more information about the lab and research topics, visit the Derin Precipitation Lab website. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in precipitation science, hydrologic hazards, radar QPE, and environmental engineering to join a dynamic research group at a leading institution.

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.

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.