Postdoctoral Research Associate in Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience

Lehigh • Bethlehem, PA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience at Lehigh University seeks a postdoctoral research associate to conduct collaborative fundamental or applied research in the groups of Dr. Ethan Yang and Dr. Hong-Yi Li. The researcher will contribute to the center’s activities and to a new multi-university consortium, developing innovative approaches to catastrophe modeling and resilience assessment. Research topics include riverine, pluvial, and compound flood hazard modeling; flood risk and loss estimation; and integrating artificial intelligence into catastrophe modeling, particularly using large language models to support model development, automate workflows, and translate model outputs into risk insights. The position offers mentorship from Drs. Yang and Li and other center faculty to support the postdoctoral researcher’s career development in academia, industry, or government.

The position is full-time for one year, with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and funding availability. The target start date is January 4, 2027, though the actual date can be negotiated. Remote work is not available; the employee is required to work on campus. In-person work is preferred.

Applicants should submit a cover letter describing research experience, career goals, and alignment with the center’s research areas; a CV; a brief statement of the earliest possible starting date; contact information for two references; and up to three selected publications. Employment is contingent on successful completion of standard background checks, which may include social security, education, national criminal, motor vehicle, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance, and credit history checks, depending on position requirements. The position involves working with minors.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree completed or near completion at the time of application in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, or a closely related field; the degree must be completed by the appointment start date.
• A good record of research and publications.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, achieve project objectives, meet 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 artificial intelligence and machine learning to hazard or risk modeling, including large language models, 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 Dr. Yang’s and Dr. Li’s research groups, with opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration within or outside Lehigh.
• Develop autonomous research and contribute to the research group and Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience activities.
• Assist the principal investigators in progressing the activities of one or two research thrusts.
• Prepare and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at conferences.
• Assist with mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.
• Contribute to grant writing, proposal development, and identification of 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.
• Professional growth and personal development in an inclusive work environment.

What This Job Offers

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