Research Associate in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of evacuation orders and severe weather warnings for hurricanes, wildfires, and flash floods across the United States
- Analyze large-scale cell-phone mobility datasets to estimate behavioral responses to hazardous weather information across diverse socioeconomic groups and event types
- Apply spatial and computational methods to examine mobility patterns, network disruption, and secondary impacts of extreme weather events on access to critical services
- Integrate mobility data with survey data to address representation gaps and develop a more complete picture of evacuation behavior in underserved communities
- Investigate the role of forecast accuracy, past event experience, and information framing on evacuation decision-making
- Explore emerging data sources such as navigation and crowdsourcing apps to study real-time behavioral responses to hazardous weather information
- Engage with emergency management partners and stakeholders to ensure research findings inform real-world decision support
- Synthesize and disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and contribute to an inclusive and collaborative research environment
- Contribute to proposal development and identification of new funding opportunities
Qualification Requirements
- Candidates must have a Ph.D. in civil engineering, transportation engineering, geography, urban planning, computer science, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
- Candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas will be given priority consideration:
- Large-scale mobility data analysis and human mobility modeling
- Computational geography, spatial analysis, or GIS
- Network analysis and transportation systems
- Machine learning, statistical modeling, or data-driven methods
- Econometrics or causal inference methods
- Emergency management, evacuation behavior, or natural hazard research
Application Procedure
Apply online at https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs and search for R0084275. Attach the following materials:
- a cover letter
- a comprehensive curriculum vitae
- contact information for three professional references (letters will be requested later)
In your cover letter, please describe your research background and interests, how your expertise aligns with this position, and evidence of your ability to conduct independent research. If you have a manuscript currently under review or in preparation that is not yet publicly available, you are encouraged to submit it as an optional writing sample.
Application Deadline
Review of applications will begin on June 29, 2026, but the position will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. The anticipated start date is August 15, 2026, though an earlier start is preferred. An estimated salary range is $47,500 - $90,000, commensurate with experience. This position is a one-year appointment; however, the appointment may be renewed for an additional one-year increment, contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance.
Contact Information
If you have questions regarding this position, contact Dr. Majid Shafiee-Jood at ms2dm@virginia.edu. For questions regarding the application process, contact Rich Haverstrom, Academic Recruiter, at rkh6j@virginia.edu. For more information on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA, visit postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
About the Role
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.