Job Description

Job Description
The Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR) in the Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation (OERI) at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, is inviting applications for a non-tenure track research faculty position in Coastal Resilience Engineering available immediately to support ICAR’s collaborations with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This is an annual 12-month appointment to be made at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank, dependent on experience.

The Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR) advances the practice of coastal resilience and adaptation by engaging with communities, organizations, and businesses to develop and deploy solutions based on integrated, innovative, and applied research. This position is part of the launch of a unique collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. As such, this faculty position provides unique opportunities to advance applied, community engaged research in Virginia’s coastal zone as well as an expectation to provide technical capacity and assistance to Virginia localities, Commonwealth agencies, businesses, and nonprofits. The goal of this position is to provide Virginia with the resilience engineering research and expertise needed to maximize the implementation of protective measures to both develop and implement novel solutions that reduce risks. The focus is on understanding and mitigating the impacts of flooding and other hazards in coastal areas, with a focus on the use of natural and nature-based features. This position does not include teaching responsibilities; however, applicants should expect a significant portion of their work activities to be directed to providing technical assistance to communities, nonprofits, and businesses, in addition to seeking sponsored research opportunities.

Past experience and disciplinary background could come from civil engineering, coastal engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, or related engineering disciplines. Most importantly, the successful candidate should be passionate about conducting applied research and translating science to action to assist localities, communities, organizations, and businesses with making measurable progress toward resilience and adaptation goals that maximize the use of natural and nature-based features. The faculty member will work as part of a multidisciplinary cohort within ICAR, including an urban ecologist, an environmental economist, and a green infrastructure design specialist, with allied tenured and tenure-track faculty from departments throughout ODU, and nonprofit partners including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to:
Co-produce applied resilience and adaptation research with ODU faculty, ICAR partners, and stakeholders;
Collect data and maintain equipment needed for research and site-specific project implementation
Identify innovative opportunities for resilience and adaptation engineered projects reducing natural hazard and climate change risk and assist localities with applying for grants to fund and implement these projects, with a focus on innovations that promote or layer natural and nature-based features grounded in the realities of how to stack financing for resilience projects;
Provide technical assistance and training to localities and organizations focusing on (1) integrating plans and practices to improve resilience and implement climate change adaptation and on (2) scoping and designing community-scale resilience and adaptation projects;
Conduct design charrettes, knowledge exchanges, and engagements in communities on resilience and adaptation;
Translate scientific and technical information for use by stakeholders in funding and implementing applied projects; and,
Document best practices and progress in the scholarly and applied literature.
Position Type FullTime
Type of Recruitment General Public
Type of Recruitment General Public
Minimum required education and/or special licenses, registrations, trainings, or certifications
Masters’ degree with significant applied experience in civil engineering, coastal engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, or related engineering disciplines, or a related degree with a specialization in site design and land development for resilience and adaptation projects.

Minimum required level and type of experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities
Knowledge of natural and nature-based features and their use in design principles, including green infrastructure, low impact development, or climate resilient design.
Skill in working both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to transfer existing projects and plans for acquiring and sustaining sponsored research.

Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. in civil engineering, coastal engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, or related engineering disciplines, or a related degree with a specialization in site design and land development for resilience and adaptation projects.
Professional Engineer (PE) license, or ability to get one in the near future.
Experience that has contributed to the implementation of a green infrastructure project.
A demonstrated record of working with community, government, non-profit, and/or business stakeholders, and building partnerships which align instruction, research, and student success activities to meet current and future needs.
Previous development and/or leadership experience with interdisciplinary, administrative, and/or academic initiatives.
Successful record of grant funding supporting community-engaged projects.