Postdoctoral Research Associate – Regional Air Quality Modeling and Forecasting

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:
September 30, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

306- - Postdoctoral Research Associate, 306- - Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Regional Air Quality Modeling and Forecasting

Faculty (+) (Fixed Term)

12 Month

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Washington State University (WSU) is seeking a qualified applicant for a 12-month, full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position based on the WSU main campus in Pullman, WA.

The incumbent will play a central role in the NW-AIRQUEST (Northwest International Air Quality Environmental Science and Technology Consortium) project, supporting the operation, evaluation, and development of AIRPACT ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).), the regional air quality forecast system that provides daily forecasts of pollutant concentrations (PM2.5, O3, SO2, NO2, CO, and PM10) for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and the surrounding region. AIRPACT is built on the WRF–SMOKE–CMAQ modeling framework and runs daily on WSU’s high-performance computing system.

The work directly supports federal, state, tribal, and local air quality managers in the Pacific Northwest and contributes to protecting public health across the region. The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to demonstrate leadership within the lab, including mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

The incumbent will join the Air Quality Research Lab () led by Dr. Jun Meng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The group conducts research to enhance understanding of the interrelations between air quality, climate change, and human health, with expertise in atmospheric composition modeling, air quality forecasting, satellite-based PM2.5 estimation, and wildfire smoke and dust aerosols.

The lab leads the operation and development of the AIRPACT regional air quality forecast system for the Pacific Northwest.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Jun Meng and will collaborate closely with NW-AIRQUEST Consortium members, including state, federal, and tribal air quality agencies.

• 80% Research
• 20% Scholarship, Outreach, and Collaboration

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation. For information or questions about Benefits, please contact HRS Benefits at .

Annual Salary: $62,232 - $70,000 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range.

This is a full time (100% FTE), temporary position. This position is overtime eligible.

Appointment Duration:
This is a temporary position expected to start on October 1, 2026 and end on September 30, 2027. The position is expected to end within one year of starting. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

For detailed information on eligibility for…