Job Description

The Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to work with Dr. A.R. Siders on a National Science Foundation Coastlines and People project: Coastal Hazards, Economic prosperity, and Resilience (CHEER).

About the project: CHEER is an interdisciplinary collaboration of engineers, sociologists, hydrologists, economists, and policy scholars to build innovative tools and insights as to how hurricanes, floods, and other climate-related hazards influence household, community, government, and private sector decisions. The postdoctoral scholar working with Dr. Siders will focus primarily on climate adaptation decision-making, exploring how and why government officials decide to adapt to increasing risks and testing how governance structures and policy innovations affect resilience outcomes.  Some examples of ongoing projects relate to how funding structures affect allocation of disaster mitigation resources and how local government capacity factors influence disaster mitigation efforts. While the CHEER project has goals and required deliverables, the ideal postdoc candidate will also have research ideas related to these themes that they can lead to broaden the team’s research portfolio and produce independent publications.  An ideal candidate would have experience in or an interest in learning about either survey methods or statistical analyses.

A major goal of CHEER is to collaborate with practitioners to pursue research that addresses practitioner needs and reflects their decision space. The postdoctoral fellow will lead our engagement with Practice Partners – practitioners from federal, state, and local government and private sector who are actively working in this space. The ideal candidate will have experience working with practitioners and be motivated to co-develop applied solutions with partners and researchers. The fellow will hold a leadership role within the CHEER Government Thrust, helping to shape the research trajectory, and will contribute to the broader intellectual community of CHEER and the Disaster Research Center.

Why UD and why CHEER? Our mentoring networks! As a CHEER scholar, you will join a team of 25 faculty, 17 doctoral students, and 8 postdocs from 12 universities across the United States. You’ll have the opportunity to spend a (funded) semester at a partner university to broaden your mentoring team and experience other academic cultures (optional). The postdoc will also join the Adaptation Lab: an interdisciplinary cohort at the University of Delaware. CHEER and UD offer many professional development opportunities (e.g., conference preparation, advising on journal submissions, science communication, career advice), and postdoctoral scholars will have the chance to build mentoring experience by working with undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students.

For more information on the CHEER project: https://www.drc.udel.edu/cheer

For more information on Dr. Siders: www.sidersadapts.com

Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Ideal start date is Spring 2026, but this is flexible.

Remote work is possible with periodic travel for data collection and project or team meetings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on government climate adaptation decision-making, equity, and funding allocations.
• Help lead and manage research projects within the CHEER Government Thrust, including coordination with other thrust teams.
• Collaborate with graduate students, support their research development, and contribute to a feedback group focused on climate adaptation and disaster science.
• Coordinate with practice partners, including organizing group practitioner sessions and occasional one-on-one meetings.
• Attend and participate in CHEER high-level meetings: Government Thrust meetings, All-Researcher meetings, All-Hands convening, and related events.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national conferences (with financial and mentoring support) to advance career goals and engage in professional development.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in public policy, geography, environmental studies, planning, sociology, engineering, or a related field (completed by start date).
• Demonstrated interest or experience in climate adaptation decision-making and/or disaster governance.
• Strong research skills (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with or studying government agencies, planning processes, hazard mitigation, or public-sector decision-making.
• Experience in or an interest in learning about survey methods or statistical analyses.
• Experience mentoring or supervising students.
• Experience engaging with practitioners or community partners or in co-developing applied projects.

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