Job Description

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, Mechanical Engineering, to work with the Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center on the creation of an irrigation solution for Egyptian farmers by identifying the unique set of design technoeconomic requirements that must be met for the solution to be viable across different market segments. The solution integrates the team's low-cost, low-energy, on- and off-grid desalination and drip irrigation technologies. This work will involve identifying key stakeholders and market segments among Egyptian farmers and understanding their preferences, needs, values, and priorities while considering technical tradeoffs and constraints imposed by the technology. The work will utilize stakeholder analysis, market research techniques, literature review, surveys, and semi-structured interviews, among other methods. The team is currently working with the National Water Resources Center in Egypt and the Egyptian office of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) to provide access to Egyptian farmers and other stakeholders. This work will inform the design of a prototype system that will be fabricated and field-tested in Egypt in 2026. It will also be used to attract industry support and further buy-in by the U.S. and Egyptian governments. The postdoc will provide staff support for student research projects and guide student research directions within a collaborative and highly team-oriented environment.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Ph.D. in mechanical engineering; and expertise in survey methods, semi-structured interviews, market research, and product design. Job #23624

The position will require domestic and international travel (<10% of the time).

This is part of a multi-year collaboration between a sponsoring company, USAID, and the GEAR Center, with yearly funding extensions based on research progress and technological/economic viability.

1/18/24