"Postdoctoral Associate - Civil and Environmental Engineering"

Position Summary

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will investigate the relationship between intra- and inter-annual atmospheric variability and change and extreme sea levels along the Gulf Coast region. This position will also develop probabilistic methods for incorporating extreme sea-level variability into relative sea-level rise projection frameworks. Working under the supervision of Dr. Avantika Gori in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Dr. Sylvia Dee in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice University, the successful candidate will primarily contribute to the ongoing NASEM-supported project, Shifting Land, Rising Seas: Forecasting How Human and Climate Drivers Shape Gulf Coast Sea-Level Futures. The researcher will conduct study the joint dynamics of atmospheric and sea-level variability using large ensemble simulations from climate models, including CESM, as well as paleoclimate data and simulations, and will collaborate across an interdisciplinary project team.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong and collaborative researcher with expertise in hydroclimate and/or sea-level modeling, experience working with large climate and related datasets, and familiarity with statistical and probabilistic methods applied to extreme events. They bring a strong research record, communicate effectively, work independently, and contribute positively to an interdisciplinary team environment through collaboration, reliability, and mentorship of other group members.

More information about Dr. Gori's research group can be found at: https://gori.blogs.rice.edu

More information about Dr. Dee's research group can be found at: https://sylviadeeclimate.org

Workplace Requirements

This is an on-site position, requiring all responsibilities to be carried out in person at Rice University campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

$61,000

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

This is a one-year, benefits-eligible, full-time position funded by grant, soft, and/or restricted funds, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year subject to continued funding and satisfactory performance.

Additional Information

The proposed start date is June 1, 2026, though candidates available to begin earlier are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Requirements

• PhD in Earth, Atmospheric, or Ocean Science, Civil & Environmental Engineering, or a related field
• No additional experience required

Preferences

• Record of research productivity, reflected through scholarly publications.
• Strong background working with general circulation model output and other large datasets.
• Expertise in hydroclimate and/or sea-level modeling.
• Familiarity with statistical and probabilistic methods applied to extreme events.
• Proficiency in scientific programming and high-performance computing environments.
• Knowledge of geospatial data processing and integration of diverse observational and model-based data sources.
• Experience developing reproducible, modular, and well-documented codebases, including familiarity with version control and collaborative development workflows such as Git/GitHub.
• Ability to contribute effectively within a collaborative research environment, including support for mentorship of other group members.

Essential Functions

• Conduct research on the relationship between intra- and inter-annual atmospheric variability and change and extreme sea levels along the Gulf Coast region.
• Develop probabilistic methods for incorporating extreme sea-level variability into relative sea-level rise projection frameworks.
• Conduct research on the joint dynamics of atmospheric and sea-level variability using large ensemble climate model simulations, including CESM, as well as paleoclimate data and simulations.
• Support the research goals and activities of the NASEM-supported project, Shifting Land, Rising Seas: Forecasting How Human and Climate Drivers Shape Gulf Coast Sea-Level Futures.
• Collaborate across an interdisciplinary project team to advance project objectives.
• Work independently to meet project deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Prepare and communicate research findings in support of project activities and scholarly dissemination.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All interested applicants should attach a resume in the supporting documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.