Research Scientist - Flood Intelligence

THE WATER INSTITUTE OF THE GULF • Baton Rouge, WV

10h • $100,000

About The Position

The Water Institute is looking for an early career researcher to support the development of probabilistic, physics-based, data-informed frameworks to support current and future flood hazard quantification and situational awareness needs. This role turns multi-modal data into actionable insights, leveraging diverse techniques including extreme value analysis, probabilistic modeling, AI, and foundation models. This role involves conducting frontier research and development in flood and disaster intelligence and requires proven expertise in physics-based modeling or probabilistic modeling, AI, and spatial analytics.

Requirements

• Master or PhD’s degree in quantitative fields such as science or engineering with a foundation in flood or risk modeling and expertise in statistics, AI, and probabilistic modeling.
• Graduate-level training in statistics, applied math, data science, hydrology, disaster risk and resilience, spatial analytics, or related fields
• Strong background in extreme value theory (EVT), multivariate distributions (e.g., copulas, RSM), time-series modeling (e.g., transformers), probabilistic modeling (e.g., MCMC, JPM-OS).
• Excellent programming skills (Python, Julia, R)
• Experience with geospatial data processing and spatial analytics
• Ability to quantify, interpret, and communicate uncertainty

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with climate downscaling or reanalysis products
• Strong background in AI for disaster risk and resilience application (e.g., foundation models for Earth).
• Experience with flood modeling.
• Ability to independently design, execute, and validate science-based solutions to complex, open-ended problems related to flood risk quantification over short- and long-term time horizons.

Responsibilities

• Collect and fuse data from multi-modal data sources including NOAA gages, HURDAT2, NEXRAD, DEMs, social media, remote sensing
• Develop impact and hazard metrics to quantify flood hazards, infrastructure exposure and impacts.
• Build and maintain automated Python pipelines to collect, process, augment, and analyze multi-modal geospatial data
• Implement extreme value analysis frameworks (POT/GPD, MLE, Bayesian inference)
• Support development of multivariate joint probability models for compound flood drivers
• Support creation of physics-based and data-driven nowcasting and short-term forecasting models (e.g., rainfall–runoff, surge, impacts)
• Publish methods in technical memos and scientific papers
• Work closely with modelers and the technical team to integrate probability models into automated workflows

Benefits

• Growth opportunity: We are always learning and developing new research methodologies and working with partners to solve problems. You will have the opportunity to engage in growing and leading research with ample opportunities to take ownership and flourish.
• Flexibility: We understand that our team members have different needs and do our best to work with their schedules and provide benefits and resources to meet these needs.
• Inclusive environment: We are committed to building an inclusive environment where all teammates feel comfortable and supported.
• Fun! We love to keep things fun, both within our work and at company-wide events.
• Work life balance: We are respectful of people’s boundaries and support that through Institute values so that our team has time to recharge and do their best work within the mission of the organization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level