Postdoctoral Scholar in Coastal Flood Modeling

Description

The University of Washington and the U.S. Geological Survey have initiated a cooperative agreement focused on increasing coastal resiliency amongst communities in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. We are seeking an enthusiastic Postdoctoral Scholar to participate in this convergent coastal hazards research project to evaluate compound flood hazards and climate adaptation solutions through modeling and field-based studies. The Postdoctoral Scholar in Coastal Flood Modeling will assist, under the direction of their mentors, with the following activities:

1. Develop, calibrate, and refine high resolution coastal flood models for coastal communities and ecosystems, and use current and predicted future conditions to determine flood hazards for estuarine and open coast settings, in particular using the Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS: www.usgs.gov/cosmos). 

2. Evaluate the probabilities and relative impacts of coastal, river, and compound flooding in selected communities under current and predicted future conditions. 

3. Assess the efficacy of a range of coastal adaptation solutions (especially habitat restoration) to minimize the future risk of sea level rise on coastal communities.

4. Develop visualizations of model output to communicate results to a diverse array of coastal stakeholders. 

5. It is expected that this research will lead to one or more published peer reviewed journal articles that will be co-authored by the postdoctoral scholar and mentors. Other products are also expected as outcomes of this work (e.g., visualizations, presentations). 

This position is full time and offered for 1 year (12-months); reappointment is possible depending upon job performance and funding availability. The expected start date is Fall/Winter 2024. The position will be hosted in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington (https://www.ce.washington.edu/) supervised by Dr. Christie Hegermiller and Dr. Alex Horner-Devine, but will be co-supervised by Dr. Patrick Barnard and Dr. Eric Grossman at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. The successful candidate will join a cohort of several postdocs spread across partner institutions in the region - through the NSF Cascadia CoPes Hub - who work collaboratively on a wide range of project components from seismic hazards to coastal inundation to community planning and engagement. The candidate will also be able to participate in professional development activities through the Hub.

 

The salary range is $78,000-$80,000/year.

 

The University of Washington is dedicated to creating a campus culture that is welcoming and inviting to all individuals and we seek individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in civil and environmental engineering and the geosciences more broadly.

 

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Qualifications

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD (at the time of appointment) in civil and environmental engineering, coastal engineering, oceanography, coastal geology, computer science, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience and skill using Delft3D and related models (e.g., Delft-FM, SWAN, XBeach, SFINCS), though applicants who have experience with other, similar coastal hydrodynamic models are encouraged to apply.
• Excellent programming capabilities, including experience with Matlab and/or Python for data analysis.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience working in coastal hazards projects.
• Experience and/or interest in community engagement, co-production, and transdisciplinary science.

Application Instructions

Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Please submit the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae (no length restriction). 
2. Letter of interest desc