Research Scientist

Location: Fairfax, VA; Potomac Science Center as needed. Workplace: On Site. Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk). Not eligible for visa sponsorship. Salary commensurate with education and experience. Criminal background check and motor vehicle records check required. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license meeting GMU Vehicle Use Policy 1411; final candidates subject to Motor Vehicle Report review.

About the Department

The Mason Flood Hazards Research Lab (Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering) advances the science and engineering practice of flood risk reduction. The lab combines numerical modeling, field observation, and geospatial analysis to study coastal, riverine, and urban flooding, and works directly with communities, local governments, and agencies to turn research into adaptation. Current sponsored work spans the Chesapeake Bay region, Virginia, and Arctic Alaska.

About the Position

The Research Scientist will conduct flood and coastal hazards research across the lab's sponsored projects, combining numerical modeling, geospatial analysis, and field monitoring with community-engaged research. Assignments include Arctic coastal hazard modeling and coastal protection co-produced with Alaska Native communities (NOAA); stormwater and flood risk studies for Virginia towns (Virginia CFPF, with Crater PDC); flood resilience work with Maryland communities in the Chesapeake Bay; and the Mason Living Lab sensor network.

Responsibilities

• Develop, calibrate, validate, and apply numerical models of flood and coastal hazards: coupled storm surge and wave models (e.g., ADCIRC+SWAN) for Arctic Alaska coasts, including sea ice, erosion, and sea-level rise scenarios; and hydrologic/hydraulic and 2D flood models of stormwater systems for Virginia and Chesapeake Bay communities.
• Analyze results to quantify exposure and the performance of engineered, green, and nature-based solutions.
• Conduct community-engaged research: co-produce flood and erosion adaptation strategies with Alaska Native communities and Tribal partners, and with local governments and residents in Virginia and Maryland.
• Plan and facilitate workshops and stakeholder meetings; communicate results to non-technical audiences.
• Build and maintain geospatial datasets for flood hazard analysis (e.g., stormwater asset inventories, exposure maps, web maps).
• Plan, deploy, maintain, and process data from environmental sensors (water level, waves, rainfall) for the Mason Living Lab and field campaigns in the Chesapeake Bay and Alaska.
• Prepare peer-reviewed publications, sponsor reports, and project deliverables; present at conferences.
• Contribute to proposal development.
• Guide the day-to-day research of graduate and undergraduate students.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in civil, coastal, or environmental engineering; geography; earth, ocean, or atmospheric science; or related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in numerical modeling or geospatial analysis of flood hazards, as evidenced by doctoral research or peer-reviewed publications.
• Knowledge of coastal, riverine, and/or urban flood processes and the numerical models used to simulate them.
• Skill in GIS and scientific programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Ability to conduct independent research and publish peer-reviewed work.
• Ability to communicate technical results to community, agency, and sponsor audiences.
• Ability to perform field work at remote coastal sites.
• Continuation subject to availability of sponsored funding.
• Travel to field sites, including remote communities in Alaska and the Chesapeake Bay region; field work may involve small boats and variable weather.
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411.

Preferred Qualifications

• Flood resilience work with Chesapeake Bay communities (MD/VA).
• Community-engaged research with Alaska Native or other Indigenous communities.
• Experience with Arctic coastal hazard modeling.
• Experience with operating field sensor networks.
• Publications, proposals, and student mentoring.
• Knowledge of Arctic coastal hazards and nature-based flood solutions.
• Skill with surge-wave and stormwater H&H models on HPC systems.
• Ability to co-produce research with communities and local governments.