Senior Research Scientist; PREP

PREP Research Associate

A position that is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). It enables research staff to collaborate with academic institutions on projects of mutual interest.

Characterization of Tornado Loads and Their Effects on Structures

• Analyzing wind tunnel testing data from tornado simulators.
• Developing performance‑based design standard provisions on tornado loads.
• Formulating improved tornado uplift pressure coefficients based on data from simulators and wind tunnels.
• Comparing tornado pressure coefficients obtained from simulators with Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel data and existing ASCE 7‑22 provisions.
• Developing a national database and a user‑friendly web interface with a map of tornado strikes on critical facilities.

• Develop procedures for estimating tornado loads from experimental datasets.
• Contribute to performance‑based design standard provisions on tornado loads.
• Conduct tree‑fall analysis to estimate tornado wind speeds and damage patterns.
• Improve ASCE 7‑22 tornado load provisions using field measurements and wind tunnel data.
• Analyze tornado simulation data and compare it with boundary‑layer wind data from wind tunnel tests.

• Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• Prior research experience and contributions in structural engineering, wind engineering, and scientific computing, including at least five peer‑reviewed journal papers on tornado load estimation and damage patterns.
• At least three years of experience with the ASCE 7 Wind Load Subcommittee in developing tornado load provisions for the ASCE 7 Standard.
• Prior experience in field studies or failure investigations.
• U.S. Citizen preferred.

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, including the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education and training, and other factors as reasonably determined by the University.

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..