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Job Title: Research Associate

PVN ID: NY-2511-007111

Category: Research

Job Description

General Description

The Environmental Science Program at the New York City College of Technology (CUNY), in collaboration with the Research Foundation of the City University of New York (RFCUNY), seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary research team focused on aquatic remote sensing and machine learning. The successful candidate will develop and apply advanced computational and remote-sensing approaches to study water-quality parameters and physical properties of inland aquatic systems using both satellite and drone-based imagery.

This position supports a collaborative research effort involving City Tech and external partner institutions. The project integrates multi-sensor data from satellites (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel-2) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to improve understanding of how surface-water characteristics vary in response to climatic, geomorphological, and ecological factors. Research activities include the development and validation of methods for extracting and analyzing surface temperature, optical water-quality indicators, and other physical parameters, as well as the application of machine-learning tools for spatiotemporal analysis.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will also contribute to data integration, quality assurance procedures (QAPP/DUAR standards), and scholarly dissemination through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and conference presentations.

Other Duties

+ Conduct research applying remote sensing, drone image analysis, and machine learning to assess water quality parameters and physical properties of lakes and reservoirs.

+ Develop, refine, and test computational workflows for processing and integrating multi-sensor datasets from satellite and UAV platforms.

+ Implement and document quality-assurance procedures and validation protocols for environmental datasets.

+ Prepare and submit manuscripts, progress reports, and conference presentations.

+ Collaborate with faculty, students, and partner institutions on data synthesis and dissemination.

+ Mentor undergraduate or graduate student researchers and contribute to proposal development for future research initiatives.

Additional Information

+ Start Date: December 1, 2025

+ Appointment Duration: One year (through November 30, 2026), renewable contingent upon performance and funding availability.

+ Worksite: New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY

+ Expected Travel: Occasional travel (1–2 times per year) to research meetings or scientific conferences.

Other Duties

+ Engage with the CUNY research community to support interdisciplinary collaboration.

+ Assist with data curation, management, and documentation for consortium use.

+ Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field (awarded by start date).

+ Demonstrated experience with satellite or drone remote sensing for environmental or aquatic systems.

+ Proficiency in scientific programming (Python, R, or equivalent).

+ Knowledge of machine-learning methods applied to environmental or geospatial data.

+ Excellent writing, analytical, and communication skills, with a record of scholarly publications.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Experience with Python-based cloud computing or high-performance computing environments.

+ Background in hydrology, limnology, or biogeochemistry.

+ Experience mentoring students and working within interdisciplinary research teams.

+ Ability to travel and present research at professional conferences.

RFCUNY Benefits RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals (https://www.rfcuny.org/rfwebsite/media/0zrcgdyw/rfcuny-benefits-at-a-glance-ft-2025-project-employee.pdf)

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Key Features

Department

Status Full Time

Annual Salary Range $65,000.00 - $72,000.00

Closing Date Jan 13, 2026 (Or Until Filled)

Bargaining Unit Yes

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