Research Scientist

Research Scientist

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has a three-part mission of research, education, and advisory service. Our overarching goals are to: Make seminal advances in understanding marine systems through research and discovery; Translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance; Provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with a coastal and marine sciences education of unsurpassed quality. The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) supports informed decision-making on resource management issues at all levels of government, including private and corporate stakeholders, through applied research, advisory services, and scientific innovation.

The Research Scientist will join the Coastal Systems Modeling Group within CCRM to support and advance research in coastal hydrodynamics, water quality processes, and next-generation operational modeling systems. The position will contribute to the development and implementation of seamless "creek-to-ocean" modeling frameworks using the SCHISM modeling system and advance artificial intelligence (AI)-based modeling approaches for coastal flooding and estuarine systems.

The Research Scientist will work collaboratively with faculty, graduate students, visiting scholars, and interdisciplinary partners while also developing independent research aligned with programmatic priorities and sponsor objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Coastal Engineering, Oceanography, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Marine Science, Applied Mathematics, or closely related field
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed research and scholarship commensurate with career stage
• Experience with numerical modeling of oceanic and estuarine systems
• Experience using unstructured grid models, particularly SCHISM
• Experience working in interdisciplinary research teams

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Advanced programming skills (e.g., Python, Fortran, MATLAB, R, C/C++)
• Experience with web-based model applications or visualization tools
• Knowledge of coastal and estuarine physical processes
• Familiarity with uncertainty quantification and statistical analysis

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating AI or machine learning approaches into environmental modeling
• Experience with operational forecasting systems
• Experience working on NOAA-funded or federal research projects
• Experience mentoring graduate students
• Experience contributing to proposal development and grant management

Salary Range: Starting at $65,000.00

Core Duties & Responsibilities

1. Coastal Systems Modeling & Numerical Simulation (35%)

• Develop, implement, and refine unstructured-grid hydrodynamic and water quality models, particularly using the SCHISM modeling framework
• Support development of seamless creek-to-ocean operational forecasting systems
• Conduct model calibration, validation, and performance evaluation
• Perform uncertainty quantification and statistical analyses of model outputs
• Maintain version control and reproducible modeling workflows

2. AI-Based Model Development & Innovation (25%)

• Develop and extend next-generation AI and machine learning models for coastal flooding and estuarine processes
• Integrate AI methodologies with physics-based numerical models
• Explore hybrid modeling frameworks to improve predictive skill and computational efficiency
• Contribute to advancing operational forecasting tools for stakeholder use

3. Research, Scholarship & Grant Support (20%)

• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and sponsor deliverables
• Assist in preparation of grant proposals and continuation applications
• Present research findings at scientific conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings
• Support NOAA-funded research objectives and reporting requirements

4. Collaboration & Mentorship (15%)

• Work closely with graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and visiting scientists
• Participate in interdisciplinary research teams
• Engage with collaborators across institutions and agencies
• Provide technical guidance on modeling workflows and computational methods

5. Independent Research Development (5%)

• Develop new research directions aligned with coastal systems modeling goals
• Identify emerging funding opportunities
• Contribute to strategic growth of the modeling program

Conditions of Employment

• Position is grant-funded and term-restricted
• Continued employment contingent upon funding availability and performance
• Occasional travel for conferences or collaborator meetings may be required
• Occasional evening or weekend work to meet project deadlines may be required