"Research Scientist"

Virginia Tech's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is seeking applicants for a Research Scientist position with Dr. Christin Salley’s Infrastructure and Resilient Communities Convergence (IRCC) Lab in Arlington, Virginia. We seek candidates with a proven track record of scholarship in civil engineering and extensive experience with advanced computational modeling and disaster and risk studies. The successful candidate will substantially contribute to the development of the growing research in Dr. Salley’s Lab, in collaboration with faculty, students, other staff scientists at the Virginia Tech Research Center (VTRC). The successful candidate will develop new lines of research, lead scientific publications and funding proposals, and supervise students and junior staff. This is an excellent position for a candidate with a background in research at the convergence of infrastructure and community resilience and previous postdoctoral experience who is motivated to grow their research profile in a highly collaborative environment. This position provides unique opportunities to engage with a dynamic, growing and highly stakeholder-engaged academic community in the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. region. This position is primarily in-person, located at the VTRC. Frequent check-ins with Dr. Salley will be required. This position is for 1 year, with possible renewal based on grants received. Job duties will include:

• Research Execution: Independently conducts research within the field of civil engineering that falls within the scope of and collaborates with the Lab under general supervision. Responsibilities include tasks such as the development of new or improved analytical methods/frameworks, experimental and field study design and data collection, and communication of findings through writing reports and manuscripts for academic journals.
• Conception and Development of Research Projects and Grant Proposals: This includes engaging with stakeholders and committees, identifying and securing funding sources, and defining unit goals. Responsible for allocating resources effectively and communicating results to relevant stakeholders (i.e., journal publications, conferences, etc.). Contributes significantly to the design, execution, and interpretation of research activities.
• Project Management: Oversees all phases of project management, including setting priorities, acquiring and managing resources, monitoring budgets, tracking progress, preparing reports, and addressing challenges as they arise. Contributes significantly to ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: May hold full or partial supervisory responsibility for project personnel. Duties include training in research methods and use of advanced computational modeling, assigning tasks, monitoring performance, conducting evaluations, and recommending personnel actions.
• Mentorship/Outreach: Provides guidance and support to junior researchers, students, or staff, fostering skill development, academic growth, and professional advancement within the research environment.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., civil engineering, computer science, disaster and risk studies, etc.)
• Record of publishing research in peer-reviewed journals or reports
• Extensive experience with computational modeling and tools (e.g., Python, R, etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resilience, risk communication, infrastructure systems, and sociotechnical systems
• Attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize responsibilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with grant writing
• Experience serving in the capacity of a PI or Co-PI, and history of successful execution of objectives of sponsored research
• Experience at a national laboratory