Senior Research Scientist – Coastal Hydrodynamics & Water Quality Modeling
Position Title: Senior Research Scientist – Coastal Hydrodynamics & Water Quality Modeling
Employment Category: Full Time Professional
Location: VIMS - Gloucester
Department: 1C2100 CCRM
Unit Mission Statement: The mission of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences (Batten School) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service.
VIMS’ strategic sections are committed to the development of resilient systems through a focus on three grand challenges, ensuring science for stewardship of:
1. Ecosystem Health: connecting physical, chemical, biological, and socioeconomic systems to address environmental and community vulnerabilities
2. Natural Resources: providing translational science for sustainable management of coastal socio-ecological systems, especially fisheries and aquaculture
3. Coastal and Ocean Processes: connecting global trends and local drivers to understand and address environmental change.
At the heart of CCRM’s mission is its commitment to conducting scientific research that directly informs decision-making and policy development and advances VIMS impact locally, regionally, and globally. CCRM serves as a bridge between scientific research and practical application, ensuring that coastal management strategies are grounded in robust evidence and cutting-edge science.
Why Join Us?
* Lead innovative, high-impact research that advances the future of coastal system modeling.
* Collaborate with top-tier scientists, policymakers, and environmental agencies in tackling pressing coastal challenges.
* Access cutting-edge computational resources and opportunities for professional growth.
* Make a real-world impact by applying science to coastal resilience, climate adaptation, and environmental forecasting.
Position Summary: The Senior Research Scientist will serve as a leader in advancing numerical modeling approaches for coastal hydrodynamics and water quality processes. This role will drive the development, enhancement, and application of next-generation “creek-to-ocean” operational systems, leveraging the SCHISM modeling framework and related computational tools.
The successful candidate will lead high-impact, interdisciplinary research projects, mentor junior scientists and graduate students, and foster collaborations with external partners in academia, government, and industry. In addition to contributing to ongoing research, the Senior Research Scientist will have the opportunity to develop new, independent research initiatives, secure external funding, and provide strategic direction within the Coastal Systems Modeling Group.
Conditions of Employment:
* This is a restricted position, subject to the continued availability of funding.
* Travel required; over time work occasionally required.
Required Qualifications:
* Ph.D. in an environmental science-related field (e.g., marine science, oceanography, environmental engineering) or a computational science-related field (e.g., physics, applied mathematics, computer science, computational fluid dynamics).
* Extensive experience in numerical modeling of coastal, oceanic, and estuarine systems.
* Advanced programming skills in Fortran, C++, and Python for scientific computing.
* Expertise in high-performance computing (HPC) environments and parallel computing.
* Strong background in coastal hydrodynamics, biogeochemical modeling, and water quality processes.
* Experience working with large-scale datasets, including model outputs, observational data, and remote sensing products.
* Demonstrated ability to develop, optimize, and apply unstructured grid models, particularly SCHISM.
* Strong record of peer-reviewed publications and contributions to high-impact research.
* Proven success in securing external funding and leading large-scale research projects.
* Experience mentoring junior scientists and students in computational modeling and environmental sciences.
Preferred Qualifications:
* Proficiency in parallel computing and scripting languages, particularly Python and shell scripting.
* Expertise in uncertainty quantification, data assimilation, and ensemble modeling approaches.
* Familiarity with machine learning applications in ocean and climate modeling.
* Extensive experience in interdisciplinary, collaborative research environments.
* Strong background in stakeholder engagement, science communication, and applied environmental modeling.
* Experience leading multi-institutional research collaborations and proposal development.
Is the position remote work eligible? Not eligible
Advertised Pay Range: up to $85,000
Benefits Summary Statement: William & Mary offers our employees a full array of benefits including retirement, health insurance with options for expanded dental and vision along with group and optional life insurance with coverage for spouse and children, flexible spending accounts, and an EAP (Employee Assistance Program).
Job Open Date: 03/17/2025
Review Begin Date: 03/24/2025
Job Close Date: Open Until Filled
EEO Statement: William & Mary values diversity and invites applications from underrepresented groups who will enrich the research, teaching and service missions of the university. The university is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
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