Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Agency: Texas A&M University
Department: Institute For A Disaster Resilient Texas
Proposed Minimum Salary: Commensurate
Job Location: Houston, Texas
Job Type: Staff
Job Description
Our Commitment
Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.
Who We Are
The Division of Research is committed to a truly comprehensive university where students, researchers, and inventors bring scholarship and innovation to bear for the benefit of the community, the state, and the nation. Texas A&M’s research creates new knowledge that provides basic, fundamental, and applied contributions resulting, in many cases, in economic benefits to the state, nation and world.
What We Want
The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) in collaboration with the Department of Ocean Engineering and the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to cutting-edge research and projects focused on disaster resilience, coastal engineering, hydrodynamic and morpho dynamic coastal processes, and flood risk reduction. IDRT is dedicated to enhancing disaster resilience by bridging the gap between research and decision-making. Our strategic approach involves conducting research on disaster risk reduction, promoting evidence-based solutions through outreach and technical assistance, and providing decision-makers with decision-support tools, data analytics, and policy solutions. The Department of Ocean Engineering conducts world-class research in offshore and nearshore systems including field, laboratory, and numerical approaches to better understand coastal processes and engineering systems that protect people, property, and infrastructure from storm damage. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the collaboration across this multidisciplinary venture through joint research efforts related to planned storm surge suppression systems along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
What You Need To Know
Salary: $71,772.00 – $80,004.00.
A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.
Qualifications
Required Education and Education
- Doctoral (PhD) degree in Civil, Ocean, Mechanical Engineering or related field with a focus on Coastal Systems, Geotechnical Challenges, Coastal Numerical Modeling, Nearshore Field Data Collection, Hydraulic Engineering, or similar expertise.
- Proficiency and experience in coastal numerical modeling tools such as circulation, flooding, wave and morphodynamic models AND/OR proficiency and experience in coastal field data collection and analysis.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
- Ability to positively and professionally interact with clients and staff.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Working knowledge of office software and instructional programs.
- Skilled in utilizing various learning and active listening strategies.
- Ability to orally comprehend and express information and use inductive and deductive reasoning.
- Ability to positively and professionally interact with clients and staff, groups of various sizes.
- Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
Preferred Qualifications
- Good understanding of coastal sediment transport dynamics.
- Knowledge and experience in inland and coastal floodplain/watershed hydrodynamics.
- Hydraulics of flood control and storm surge suppression structures (e.g., culverts, pump stations, detention basins, hydraulic gates, surge barriers).
- Experience with field data collection methods such as in-situ infiltration sampling, topographic and bathymetric surveying, acoustic and piezo-electric instruments for current and wave measurements.
- Proficiency in programming languages and data analysis tools such as Python, Matlab, and R.
- Proficiency in GIS software (e.g., ESRI ArcPro).
- Strong written, oral, and visual communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Research- Under general supervision, the post-doctoral researcher is responsible for conducting research and project tasks related to their (or adjacent) field of expertise. This will include data collection, analysis of research data and result summaries. Research and project tasks can cover a range of topics including: Coastal hydrodynamic and morpho dynamic numerical modeling. Field data collection and analysis of nearshore dynamics. Design and analysis of flood control infrastructure. Nature-based flood mitigation solutions. Flood risk and hazard analytics. Watershed and floodplain assessment. Flood forecasting and warning systems.
- Mentoring- Assist, mentor, and/or supervise student researchers and/or graduate students who are working on related research or project efforts.
- Presentations / Publications- Present research outcomes to small and/or large groups. Actively participate in the preparation of required technical progress reports to research sponsors. Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
Other Requirements and Factors
- This position is security sensitive.
- This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TAMU policies, regulations, rules and procedures.
- All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and University safety requirements.
Why Texas A&M University?
We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 
- Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
- 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
- Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
- Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
- Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
- Employee Tuition Assistance and Educational Release time for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.
