Research Associate (PREP0002367)

Requisition #: A-144608-3

Status: Full Time

Type: Faculty

School: Whiting School of Engineering

Department/Program: Commercial and Government Programs Office

Location City: Baltimore

Location State: MD

Location Zip Code: 21218

Closing Date: Open until filled

To apply: apply.interfolio.com/144608

General Description

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

A senior researcher or a faculty member is sought with expertise in social sciences and climate science to identify methods and practices for incorporation of climate projections and data into engineering design hazards that are prescribed in codes, standards, and tools to ensure the continued resilience of buildings, infrastructure, and communities when subjected to future hazards. Furthermore, this researcher would provide understanding of socioeconomic implications of future climate for the social and economic systems that the built environment supports.

There is an urgent need for climate projections to be incorporated into codes, standards, and tools so that they may be used by designers and planners to meet challenges in addressing future climate impacts. Currently, communities are beginning to address this issue in varying ways with available tools and knowledge, but significant advances are still needed to develop understanding of how future climate may affect the natural hazards that are considered in building design and to improve design and construction practice for the future climate conditions. NIST has long-standing expertise in reducing natural hazards risk and enhancing resilience of the built environment. NIST is strategically developing our capacity in the climate effects and future hazards quantification arena to support the continued resilience of buildings, infrastructure, and communities. This research will help identify gaps, research needs, and proposed solutions for developing forward-looking codes, standards, and tools.

NIST seeks to supplement its capacities with input from PREP Fellow experts with expertise in risk communication, social sciences (including, but not limited to economics, sociology, and geography), climatology and meteorology, reliability, and civil/structural engineering to identify specific areas where advances may be most impactful. The PREP Fellow will work with NIST researchers to develop a state-of-the-art document of current practices and knowledge as well as a research roadmap for incorporating climate projections in codes, standards, and tools for buildings and infrastructure, as they support social functions.  Future climate effects that may be of particular interest include both acute shocks and persistent stressors - some examples, include: air and water temperature rise, changes in precipitation, sea level rise, frequency and intensity of convective storms, and their associated storm surge and coastal flooding. The key problem PREP Fellow will address will be to identify gaps and research needs for accurate quantification of future climate effects for selected design hazards and for buildings and infrastructure systems' future capacities, using relevant climate projections and downscaling methods, to advance codes, standards, and tools to meet future community resilience goals. 

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• -      Support the development of a literature review and critical assessment of current climate science and social science, how it can be applied to codes, standards, and tools, as well as gaps and needs for advancement with specific focus on social and economic resilience.
• -        Contribute to publication of a state-of-the-art review document on effects of climate change, accounting for human decision-making, on future hazards and design conditions.
• -        Plan and participate (subject to schedule) in NIST workshops for input from a broader set of climate scientists and stakeholders.
• -        Contribute to the publication of a NIST roadmap report on the critical assessment of gaps/research needs.

• -        Contribute to development of framework(s) to evaluate sustainability (GHG mitigation) and adaptation/resilience. 

Privacy Act Statement

Authority:  15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose:  The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the  Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.  

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses:  NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices:  NIST-1: NIST Associates. 

Disclosure:  Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Qualifications

§  A Ph.D.in a Social Science related discipline, including but not limited to public policy, sociology, economics, or geography.

§  An undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline.

§  An excellent record of research, publications, and strong communication skills related to climate change.

§  A strong background in decision making, climate change, and risk assessment.

§  The ability to work both independently and as part of a larger, multi-disciplinary team to achieve project objectives, meet project deadlines and reporting requirements, and help mentor other early career (and student) team members.

Application Instructions

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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 characteristic. 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 that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [email protected]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.