Coastal Research Scientist

Coastal Research Scientist

This position is responsible for leading and coordinating advanced interdisciplinary research activities focused on science, engineering, and design in coastal basin systems. It requires specialized expertise in coastal processes, computational modeling, engineering design, applied mathematics, environmental systems, or related scientific disciplines supporting coastal resilience and ecosystem sustainability. The incumbent will independently lead and contribute to complex research initiatives involving development and application of computational models, engineering analyses, experimental design, field and laboratory investigations, and interdisciplinary coastal systems research.

• Independent Research Leadership & Technical Execution (60%) – Lead and conduct advanced interdisciplinary research related to coastal systems science, engineering, computational modeling, environmental processes, and coastal resilience initiatives. Develop, implement, and apply computational models, engineering analyses, laboratory or field experiments, and technical methodologies supporting coastal basin research and design objectives. Independently coordinate and execute research tasks within large interdisciplinary projects while ensuring scientific integrity, technical quality, and compliance with applicable research standards and protocols.
  
  Analyze and interpret complex scientific and technical data and contribute to development of innovative methodologies, tools, and applied research solutions. Collaborate with faculty investigators, research personnel, governmental agencies, and external stakeholders on applied coastal research initiatives and technical problem‑solving efforts.
• Research Project Coordination & Program Support (15%) – Coordinate research activities across interdisciplinary teams and assist with planning, organization, and implementation of complex research initiatives and sponsored project activities. Contribute to project management activities including research planning, task coordination, progress tracking, reporting, and communication with project stakeholders and funding agencies. Serve as Principal Investigator, Co‑Principal Investigator, or key research personnel on sponsored research projects as appropriate.
  
  Assist with management and coordination of laboratory, computational, or field research operations, equipment utilization, technical workflows, and research documentation.
• Proposal Development & Research Funding Activities (10%) – Identify and support development of external funding opportunities related to coastal science, engineering, computational modeling, and interdisciplinary environmental research initiatives. Contribute to the preparation, writing, and submission of competitive research proposals, technical scopes of work, supporting documentation, and project deliverables for federal, state, nonprofit, and private funding agencies. Participate in development of collaborative research initiatives and strategic research partnerships.
• Mentorship, Training & Collaborative Engagement (10%) – Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and research support to graduate students, undergraduate students, and other research personnel participating in coastal research initiatives. Assist in development of technical skills, research methodologies, data analysis approaches, and professional development activities for student researchers. Participate in professional meetings, workshops, technical presentations, outreach activities, and interdisciplinary collaborations representing the research program and advancing scientific engagement initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned (5%) – Perform additional tasks related to the research program as required.

• Ph.D. in civil engineering, environmental engineering, coastal engineering, computational applied mathematics, coastal science, ecology, biology, environmental science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting advanced scientific or engineering research in coastal systems, environmental processes, computational modeling, applied mathematics, engineering design, or related…