TTU Post Doctoral Research Associate

Position Description

Performs specialized Post Doctoral work in the planning, conducting and/or supervision of original research. Responsible for participating in a research project associated with PhD studies and the interpretation of the results of publication. Work is performed under supervision of graduate faculty members with evaluation based on accomplishment of assigned objectives and overall effectiveness of project. May supervise research and student assistants.

About the Department and/or College

The HUD-funded Center of Excellence in Capacity-building for REsilient Housing (CECREH), housed within the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University, invites applications for a full-time, on-site Postdoctoral Associate position. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in community resilience, and housing and household disaster recovery. CECREH is a multidisciplinary consortium of six leading institutions including Texas Tech University (lead), University of Kansas, Stony Brook University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Texas Southern University, and the University of Waterloo. Together, these institutions are developing innovative housing solutions in the context of disaster recovery and affordable housing.

The Postdoctoral Researcher (PR) will contribute to the HUD-funded CECREH by conducting research on hazard mapping, exposure simulations, and integrated models of community resilience. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ali Nejat, the PR will integrate social science perspectives into resilience research, helping to explore implications for whole-community recovery. Key responsibilities include coordinating graduate student publications, supporting interdisciplinary research tracks across the center.

The PR will play a central role in developing predictive geospatial hazard exposure models, simulating post-disaster unmet needs through techniques like agent-based modeling (ABM), and contributing to the design and analysis of surveys to inform and validate models. For more information about the role, contact Dr. Ali Nejat ali.nejat@ttu.edu directly.

Major/Essential Functions

• Conduct research in data-driven housing recovery, hazard modeling and geospatial mapping, and community needs assessment
• Design and administer surveys; analyze data to inform and validate models
• Publish finding in peer-reviewed journals and present at academic conferences
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students; support center publications and reporting

Required Qualifications

PhD in area of project specialization. Knowledge of modern research practices, the methods, resources, and standards thereof. Ability to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities. Ability to integrate resources, policies, and information for the determination of procedures, solutions and other outcomes. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with other employees and the public. Ability to plan and allocate the workload of employees, providing direct training and supervision as needed.

This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience in working with large datasets and applying machine learning techniques, particularly in the context of disasters and disaster recovery.