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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Penn State’s interdisciplinary smart amphibious residential building project seeks motivated undergraduate or graduate student researchers to support the development of flood-resilient, community-centric housing solutions in the Appalachian region. You will work alongside faculty, graduate students, and community partners to advance designs, prototypes, and field studies that integrate adaptive foundations, smart sensing, and recovery-focused programming.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews on amphibious foundations, modular construction, and smart home technologies
• Develop and refine computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D models (Revit, SolidWorks) for prototype housing units
• Assist with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wave-tank testing in CITEL
• Support sensor calibration, data collection, and preliminary digital-twin development
• Help plan and facilitate community workshops in Charleston, WV, alongside Fahe and RCCR partners
• Compile and analyze qualitative and quantitative data on design performance, cost-benefit, and user feedback
• Prepare summary reports, presentations, and draft figures for team meetings and external dissemination

Qualifications

• Enrolled at Penn State (Engineering, Architecture, Environmental Science, Sociology, or related fields)
• Experience with CAD software (Revit and/or SolidWorks) and basic CFD concepts
• Basic coding or data-analysis skills (Python, MATLAB, or equivalent)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with interest in community engagement
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and travel occasionally to Charleston, WV
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

Employment Details

• Position Title:  Research Assistant (Smart Amphibious Housing)
• Wage: $16–18 per hour, commensurate with experience
• Hours: 10–15 hours per week during the academic year
• Duration: Academic year (with potential renewal based on performance and funding)