ERDC-CHL: Understanding Post-Wildfire Flooding Risk to Enhance Resilience, Recovery, and Mitigation

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center's Coastal & Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) performs research on ocean, estuarine, riverine, and watershed systems in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Department of Defense (DOD) Task Force in support of the Ocean Commission. A multi-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and support personnel work in CHL's internationally known, unique facilities.

This team has developed state-of-the-art experimental and computational models for solving water resource problems worldwide. CHL research and development addresses water resource and navigation challenges in a variety of hydrodynamic systems including aquifers, watersheds, rivers, reservoirs, lakes, estuaries, harbors, coastal inlets, and wetlands. Physical facilities of approximately 1.7 million square feet and high-performance computing facilities at the DOD Supercomputing Research Center.

Cascading hazards, such as the progression from wind to wildfire to flooding, pose significant challenges to effectively understanding and communicating risk. Compound hazards associated with wildfires include increased risk of flooding, debris flows, and sedimentation that compromises flood risk management infrastructure. This research seeks to identify and fill gaps in knowledge to better assess how the nation’s infrastructure can meet growing demands and a shifting risk landscape.

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will research and network with an interdisciplinary team to identify gaps in the current USACE approach to anticipating and mitigating post-wildfire environmental risks, including improved modeling of physical risks and research for best compound risk communication across disciplines and organizational types. The proposed research will use a combination of mixed methods research to evaluate post-wildfire flooding scenarios, USACE scientific outputs, and community-level implementation of USACE products and outputs.

The project has a research-to-operations focus; therefore, you will learn how research is best translated into operational practice and will have the opportunity to communicate across the research-to-operations spectrum. You will gain knowledge and experience in the development of materials to support preparedness strategies, hazard awareness and education, and resilience planning for the USACE.

This fellowship provides the opportunity to independently utilize your skills and engage with experts in innovative ideas to move the proposed research forward.

Location Varies

April 2026

Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidate.

This appointment is a full-time or part-time twelve-month research appointment. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

You will receive a stipend to be determined by ERDC-CHL. Stipends are typically based on a participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other provisions may include the following:

• Health Insurance Supplement (Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE)
• Training and Travel Allowance

This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and DoD. Participants do not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DoD or any other office or agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE. For more information, visit the ORISE Research Participation Program at the U.S. Department of…