Postdoctoral Research Associate

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This postdoctoral researcher position is an essential staff role within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, critical for advancing funded research initiatives, including an NSF ENACTs , NSF CHIRRP and UTC projects. The position plays a central role in sustaining the department’s research mission by developing and applying advanced computational and experimental approaches to address complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. The postdoc’s work directly supports high-impact research outcomes, student mentoring, and the department’s broader commitment to integrating research and education.

The position requires a high level of independent research skill, technical expertise, and the ability to synthesize complex data to meet project objectives. As essential staff, the postdoctoral researcher is required to maintain research continuity and meet project milestones, even during periods of departmental curtailment, ensuring timely completion of federally funded research, reporting obligations, and contributions to the department’s research profile.

Duties/Responsibilities

Research and Data Analysis – 60%

• Conduct high-level research supporting the NSF ENACTS project and other funded research projects. Responsibilities include developing and implementing computational and experimental models, analyzing complex datasets, and synthesizing results to advance project objectives.

• Work will directly contribute to publications, project reports, and the generation of new knowledge in civil and environmental engineering.

Manuscript Preparation and Grant Reporting – 15%

• Assist in preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, technical reports, and progress reports required by funding agencies.

• Ensure that all research outputs meet high standards of accuracy, clarity, and compliance with federal reporting requirements.

Student Mentorship and Collaboration – 15%

• Provide guidance and mentoring to graduate and undergraduate students participating in related research.

• Facilitate collaborative research efforts within the department, supporting a research environment that integrates student training with project deliverables.

Project Management and Communication – 10%

• Coordinate research activities, track progress toward project milestones, and maintain documentation of experiments and analyses.

• Participate in departmental meetings and collaborations, communicating findings effectively to faculty, students, and funding agencies.

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• A Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering or a closely related field is required.

• Demonstrated experience in computational modeling, data analysis, or social science research relevant to environmental systems or infrastructure is expected.

• A strong record of research productivity, including publications in peer-reviewed journals, is preferred.

• Candidates must have sufficient expertise to perform advanced research independently with minimal training, in alignment with NSF-funded project objectives.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of civil and environmental engineering principles and risk engineering with a focus on infrastructure and environmental systems.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including AI, machine learning pipelines, large language models, and data fusion.

• Proficiency in programming languages and software commonly used in research, such as Python, and GIS tools.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills to effectively convey research findings to diverse audiences, including students, faculty, and funding agencies.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment, managing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines.

• Strong mentoring and interpersonal skills to guide and support graduate and undergraduate students in research projects.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to adapt research approaches and address complex scientific questions.

• Familiarity with federal grant reporting requirements and research compliance standards is preferred.

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)

• Resume/CV

Compensation Pay Range:

$40k-55k

The rank of the selected candidate will depend upon the candidate’s qualifications.

Please be advised that this position is supported by external sponsor funding. As such, continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability of those external funds. If, for any reason, the sponsor funding is reduced or discontinued, employment may be subject to modification or termination in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location:

Durham

Salary Grade:

Faculty 01