Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004832)

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University seeks a PREP Research Associate to advance resilience‑based seismic design of steel structures in collaboration with NIST and academia. The role emphasizes translating complex data into practical guidance for structural engineers and contributing to high‑impact research on functional recovery after earthquakes.

The position requires a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on steel structures, strong Python/MATLAB skills, and a track record of rigorous modeling and

Qualifications

• PhD in Civil Engineering with focus on steel structures or seismic performance.
• Strong background in experimental testing and nonlinear analysis of steel systems.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB; proven publication record.

Responsibilities

• Synthesize knowledge from tests and high‑fidelity models of steel components.
• Develop nonlinear finite element models to address data gaps.
• Develop and validate functional recovery design limits for steel components and systems.
• Translate findings into seismic design guidance for functional recovery and post‑earthquake assessment.
• Conduct nonlinear dynamic analyses across steel building archetypes.
• Prepare and present research papers for peer‑reviewed journals.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Finite Element Modeling

Seismic design

Technical writing

Publications

Education

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering

Tools

ABAQUS/ANSYS

Job description

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration. A postdoctoral fellow is sought for a position in Structural Engineering to contribute to cutting‑edge work on resilience‑based seismic design of steel structures. This opportunity is part of a high‑impact research effort focused on advancing the science of seismic design to enable the functional recovery of steel buildings at both the component and system levels. The researcher will collaborate closely with leading experts at NIST and academia to accelerate the development of next‑generation seismic design and post‑earthquake evaluation procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Synthesize knowledge from past experimental tests and high‑fidelity models of structural steel components.
• Develop new nonlinear finite element models to address key data gaps in steel component behavior.
• Develop and validate functional recovery design limits for various steel components and systems.
• Translate findings into technical guidance that informs seismic design for functional recovery, post‑earthquake assessment, and decision‑making for structural engineers.
• Conduct nonlinear dynamic analyses and consequence modeling across a suite of steel building archetypes to demonstrate the real‑world application of the developed procedures.
• Prepare high‑quality research papers for peer‑reviewed journals, and present findings at national conferences.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is preferred.
• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on the behavior of steel structures.
• Strong background in the experimental testing of structural steel components and nonlinear analysis of steel systems, with emphasis on seismic effects.
• Experience in developing high‑fidelity finite element models of steel components and calibrating them to test results.
• Experience in developing and validating high‑fidelity finite element models for steel buildings.
• Experience in developing and validating steel component modeling parameters against experimental outcomes and finite element models.
• Proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong publication record in leading peer‑reviewed journals.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants