APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

CURRENT

PENN STATE EMPLOYEE

(faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT

(not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The research group of Dr. Onur Apul in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for two (2) Postdoctoral Scholar positions in the areas of physicochemical water treatment, environmental chemistry, and emerging contaminants. Dr. Apul leads the Drinking Water Treatment Innovations Laboratory, which develops fundamental and applied solutions for emerging water quality challenges through advanced treatment technologies, environmental nanotechnology, and adsorption science. The successful candidates will contribute to externally funded research projects focused on one or more of the following areas: PFAS fate, transport, treatment, and destruction Activated carbon adsorption and regeneration Thermal treatment of PFAS-laden treatment residuals Nanobubble-based water treatment technologies Microplastics and nanoplastics in environmental systems Environmental surface chemistry and interfacial phenomena Current projects include NSF-supported research on PFAS-contaminated treatment systems, environmental impacts of PFAS releases, nanobubble technologies, and emerging contaminants in water systems.

Responsibilities The postdoctoral scholar will:

Lead independent and collaborative research projects, and assist with proposal development and research management Design and conduct laboratory experiments, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, and present research at national and international conferences Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across Penn State and partner institutions Maintain instruments, and laboratory's environmental health and safety procedures Required Qualifications Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Materials Science, or a closely related field Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals Demonstrated expertise in experimental research Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work independently and collaboratively Preferred Qualifications Experience in one or more of the following: PFAS analysis, treatment, or destruction Adsorption and activated carbon systems GC-MS, ICP-MS, TOC, or related analytical techniques Environmental nanotechnology Water and wastewater treatment processes Colloid and interface science Environmental fate and transport modeling Data analysis using AI tools, Python, MATLAB, R, or similar tools Position Details Expected start date: Summer/Fall 2026 (flexible) Competitive salary and benefits

Location:

University Park, Pennsylvania Penn State offers a highly collaborative research environment with access to world-class facilities, including advanced analytical instrumentation, materials characterization facilities, and interdisciplinary research centers. The successful candidate will have opportunities to develop an independent research portfolio while contributing to cutting-edge solutions for critical environmental challenges. Application Instructions Interested applicants should submit the following: 1. Cover letter describing research interests and qualifications 2. Curriculum vitae 3. One-page statement of research interests and future goals 4. Contact information for three professional references Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled. For questions regarding the position, please contact: Dr. Onur G.

Apul Associate Professor Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Pennsylvania State University Email:

onur@psu.edu

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (

Note:

For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines There's a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world's universities. Across 24 campuses, our 100,000 students and 40,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom - it's the positive impact made on communities across the world. Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters - more than half a million strong - driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.