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:

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

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.

It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Individuals from minoritized communities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity at (757) 683-3141.

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.

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).