Research Assistant or Associate Professor in Resilience Engineering for the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (Non Tenure Track F1022A)

Job description

Posting Details




Job Title Research Assistant or Associate Professor in Resilience Engineering for the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (Non-Tenure Track F1022A)

Department COASTAL RESILIENCY AUTHORITY

Position Number F1022A

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.




Conditions of Employment

Location Norfolk, VA

Job Open Date 03/24/2025

Application Review Date 04/30/2025

Open Until Filled Yes

Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit materials at
https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/22855 and attach the following with their online application:


+ A cover letter indicating the rank you would like to be considered for.

+ A curriculum vitae.

+ A statement of research interests.

+ A statement of engagement philosophy.

+ Unofficial graduate transcripts.

+ Contact information for 3 references.

If the application progresses in the search, the application site will request confidential recommendation letters from these individuals.

For additional information regarding the position, please contact Search Committee Chair Carol Considine, Director of Applied Projects, ICAR (cconsidi@odu.edu).

Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2025.The position will remain open until it is filled.


Telework Friendly No

Reasonable Accommodation Request
If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Division of Talent Management and Culture at (757)683-3141.


Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or © consistent with contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.


About the College

About the Department
ICAR was launched by an interdisciplinary group of faculty in 2018 to leverage over eight years of ODU investment and leadership in coastal adaptation and resilience scholarship.

Buoyed by a $3 million endowment by Joan Perry Brock, ICAR hired an executive director in 2021 and embarked on an organization process to build an interdisciplinary center focused on leading fundamental and applied research, education, and engaged partnerships to develop practical solutions to the challenges coastal communities face.

In 2023, ICAR launched its faculty, student, and community partner affiliation program focused on sea level rise and climate science, social science and policy, flooding and built environments, and the health dimensions of coastal resilience.

ICAR catalyzes the action needed to build vibrant communities, strong economies, and healthy ecosystems across the Commonwealth of Virginia despite natural hazards and climate change (https://oduadaptationandresilience.org/).

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, with more than 91,000 members around Virginia.

The CBF advocates for effective, science-based solutions to pollution impacting the Bay, its rivers, and its streams.

CBF engages on climate resilience and adaptation in recognition that climate change and its resulting impacts could lead to additional pollution loads to the Bay.

As Virginia’s localities, organizations, businesses, and people act to implement solutions that reduce climate change risk, CBF seeks to ensure that these actions also benefit the outcome of Virginia’s clean water blueprint (https://www.cbf.org/how-we-save-the-bay/chesapeake-clean-water-blueprint/state-watershed-implementation-plans/virginia/index.html).





Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).




+ * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?



+ The Chronicle of Higher Education (website or print)

+ Higheredjobs.com

+ DiverseJobs.com

+ InsightIntoDiversity.com

+ Jobs.Virginia.gov

+ Old Dominion University website

+ Virginia Pilot (website or print)

+ Richmond Times Dispatch (website or print)

+ Academic Keys

+ Other



+ If you selected Other, how did you hear about this employment opportunity?


(Open Ended Question)



Applicant Documents
Required Documents

+ Cover Letter/Letter of Application

+ Curriculum Vitae

+ Statement of Research Interests

+ Other Document

+ Unofficial Graduate Transcripts

+ Contact Information for Professional References

Optional Documents

Required Skill Profession

Other General