Postdoctoral Research Associate in Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience

Lehigh University • Bethlehem, PA

6d • $65,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience (CAT) at Lehigh University is seeking a postdoctoral research associate to join the Center’s research activities and contribute to a new multi-university consortium. The position is supervised by Center Associate Director Ethan Yang and Associate Professor Hong-Yi Li. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct collaborative research, develop approaches to catastrophe modeling and resilience assessment, assist faculty with project proposals, and receive mentorship from faculty to support a future career in academia, industry, or government.

The researcher will conduct fundamental or applied research in Dr. Yang’s and Dr. Li’s groups, with opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration inside or outside Lehigh. Research topics include riverine, pluvial, and compound flood hazard modeling; flood risk and loss estimation; and integrating artificial intelligence into catastrophe modeling. A particular emphasis is using large language models to support model development, automate modeling workflows, and translate model outputs into risk insights. The successful candidate is expected to develop autonomous research, participate in research group and Center activities, and work on campus; remote work is not available.

This is a full-time, one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability. The target start date is January 4, 2027, although the actual date can be negotiated. The anticipated salary is $65,000–$70,000, competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, with benefits. Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, a brief statement of their earliest possible start date, contact information for two references, and up to three selected publications. The position works with minors and requires successful completion of applicable background checks.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree completed or near completion in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, or a closely related field at the time of application; the degree must be completed by the start of the appointment.
• A good record of research and publications.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work independently to achieve project objectives, meet project deadlines and reporting requirements, and help mentor other group members.
• Ability to facilitate collaborations with multidisciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, such as HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, SWMM, TRITON, or similar, including urban drainage and compound flood applications.
• Experience applying AI and machine learning to hazard or risk modeling, including LLMs, LLM-based agents, or related generative AI tools.
• Experience in flood risk assessment, loss estimation, resilience analysis, and catastrophe modeling.
• Experience with code development and management, such as Python, Git, and high-performance computing.
• Technical skills in data science, GIS, and remote sensing.
• Experience in probabilistic modeling, uncertainty quantification, and surrogate modeling.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental or applied research in the research groups of Dr. Yang and Dr. Li, with possible multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Develop innovative approaches to catastrophe modeling and resilience assessment.
• Develop autonomous research and participate in research group activities and Center activities.
• Assist the principal investigators in progressing the activities of one or two research thrusts.
• Prepare and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at conferences.
• Assist with mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students and other group members.
• Contribute to grant writing, including proposal development and identifying funding opportunities.
• Participate in Center seminars, workshops, and other events and engage with the academic community.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits, including comprehensive healthcare plans, tuition remission, and retirement savings opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree