The Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII) seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support the researchers from the Impact Water – Arizona program of AWII to drive the Arizona Water Chatbot (https://azwaterbot.org) and related technological initiatives forward.The Arizona Water Innovation Initiative is a statewide project led by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory in collaboration with Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Through this initiative, ASU works with industrial, municipal, research, agricultural, tribal, and international partners to rapidly accelerate and deploy new approaches and technologies for water conservation, efficiency, monitoring, forecasting, decision-making, policy, and equitable distribution. AWII’s mission is to drive a thriving water future through discovery, innovation, and action for the benefit of all of Arizona.

The Impact Water – Arizona program of AWII directly funds projects and supports ASU faculty and staff in implementing engagement activities and developing use-inspired research and tools to address Arizona’s water challenges. Spearheaded by the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, the program operates in partnership with the Kyl Center for Water Policy and the Decision Theater. Impact Water – Arizona plays a vital role in ASU’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, fostering community awareness and involvement to tackle water challenges and propel solutions in the state. By collaborating across diverse expertise and resources, the program is sparking knowledge, inspiring engagement, and instigating transformative change for a more secure and resilient water supply.

This initiative is housed in a state-of-the-art research building on the ASU Tempe campus and its laboratory facilities in the Walton Center for Planetary Health, including faculty and graduate student offices, conference and theater space, computing and visualization facilities, indoor and outdoor labs with instrumentation, and public outreach activities.

We seek a postdoctoral research fellow from Summer 2025 to December 2026 to drive forward the Arizona Water Chatbot (https://azwaterbot.org) and related technological projects. The Arizona Water Chatbot (or AZ Waterbot) uses a custom-built generative AI tool to deliver curated information about water management, conservation, and conditions to the Arizona public. This fellow will be responsible for providing thought leadership, technical oversight, and community outreach for the project. The fellow will provide thought leadership that allows Waterbot to stay ahead of the curve on water issues, technical issues, and social issues relevant to Waterbot. The scholar will provide technical oversight by leading code development and product managing the Waterbot feature production/maintenance timeline; the scholar will also supervise a research assistant who contributes to Waterbot’s code. The scholar will conduct outreach by interacting in-person and online with local, municipal, state, and regional organizations and agencies to promote use of Waterbot in the Arizona public and integration of the Waterbot into organizations’ websites and services.

This is a benefits-eligible, full-time position with no tenure implications. Opportunity for appointment renewal contingent on funding availability and satisfactory performance. The anticipated start date is May 2025.

Essential Duties

• Provide thought leadership on water issues, technical issues, and social issues relevant to Waterbot
• Provide technical oversight to Waterbot
• Lead code development of an LLM-powered custom architecture in Python
• Maintain and develop Amazon Web Services hosting
• Manage the Waterbot feature production/maintenance timeline
• Supervise a research assistant who contributes to Waterbot’s code
• Conduct public outreach by interacting in-person and online with local, municipal, state, and regional organizations and agencies
• Lead integration of Waterbot into existing assets of organizational partners
• Facilitate effective communication between Waterbot team members, stakeholders, and project sponsors regarding research outcomes
• Conduct regular check-ins with internal and external stakeholders to monitor progress on research deliverables
• Report to the UX Architect on research outcomes
• Contribute to research publications on Waterbot and related initiatives
• Support additional technological initiatives related to Waterbot

Required Qualifications:

• Applicants must have a recent Ph.D. (within the past four years) in computer science, technical communication, science and technology studies, or a closely related discipline.
• Applicants must have applicable experience in AI tool development

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with water policy or initiatives
• Experience with developing AI projects
• Experience with Amazon Web Services
• Experience with community outreach

Working Environment:

• Climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of being in a stationary position.
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity associated with daily use of desktop computer.
• Travel throughout the Phoenix metro area to meet with external stakeholders.
• Ability to clearly communicate to perform essential duties.

Only electronic submissions will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be considered. To apply for this position, submit the following required application materials:

• A detailed cover letter that includes a description of applicant’s research interests and relevant experience and vision related to the position.
• Current curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references (include name, title, affiliation, email address, phone number).

Review of applications will begin April 22, 2025. If not filled, applications will be evaluated weekly thereafter until the search is closed.