The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Louisiana Watershed Flood Center (LWFC) a unit of the Universitys Institute for Coastal and Water Research (ICaWR) and an affiliated center with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks a postdoctoral researcher to conduct interdisciplinary research addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change and increasing flood risk in U.S. Gulf regions through justice-minded research and collaborative climate adaptation planning. http://shydrorise.org.
We seek a candidate with the capacity to bridge fields including hydrology, water resources engineering, flood prediction, climatology, geography, economics, sociology, and planning. The postdoctoral researcher role will combine model development, scenario analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the translation of scientific findings to inform equitable adaptation planning under climate uncertainty. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in infrastructure resilience, adaptation planning, and systems-level approaches to climate risk. Strong backgrounds across the following areas are encouraged: • Hydroclimatic modeling • Geography • Systems-based approaches • Public policy • Planning • Socioeconomic analysis.
The postdoctoral researcher will help develop and evaluate future climate adaptation scenarios, identifying strategies that address disproportionate community impacts and enhance both physical and social infrastructure resilience. The position offers extensive opportunities for collaboration with researchers, practitioners, and community partners across multiple states, contributing to innovative and equitable approaches that advance flood resilience in the region. The postdoctoral researcher will report to the Director of ICaWR and LWFC. This is a 12-month position. The position is for 2 years with the possibility of a third year contingent upon performance and the completion of required project activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Use hydrodynamic simulations to quantify socioeconomic and environmental impacts.
Develop equity-oriented metrics for both human and physical systems.
Develop and evaluate future climate adaptation scenarios, including different mitigation and land development options.
Identify strategies that address disproportionate community impacts and enhance both physical and social infrastructure resilience.
Conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of climate extremes, flood risk, community impacts, infrastructure resilience, and adaptation planning.
Author research papers and participate in developing research proposals.
Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
Participate in additional projects and duties as assigned.