Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004938)

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University PREP Research Associate in Structural Engineering focuses on developing a unified database of seismic performance data. The role collects and harmonizes experimental and reconnaissance data to support next‑generation codes and standards.

The candidate will build a robust SQL database, create front‑end data access tools, and contribute to publications and presentations at national venues.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Civil/Structural Engineering with strong understanding of the behavior of structural systems.
• Strong background in experimental testing and numerical analysis of structural components.
• Experience with SQL databases and data management.

Responsibilities

• Synthesize knowledge and extract design, response, damage, and repair data for structural components from experiments and reports.
• Develop and manage a robust relational database focused on seismic performance of structural components.
• Develop consequence models for various structural systems to demonstrate the unified database.
• Design and implement front-end tools or user interfaces to facilitate data accessibility for researchers and practitioners.
• Leverage data analysis to unify underlying structural data used to develop design limits by codes and standards for functional recovery and other performance targets.
• Develop computational workflows of U.S. building code design requirements to quantify impact of proposed updates.
• Prepare high-quality research papers for peer-reviewed journals and present findings at national conferences.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data analysis

Front-end tools

Git

Education

Ph.D. in Civil/Structural Engineering

Tools

Git

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 the development of a relational database for structural components. The researcher will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team to create a unified database of the seismic performance of structural components to inform the development of future codes and standards. This open‑source SQL repository will capture experimental and reconnaissance data on damage, capacity, and repair needs for various structural systems, with the potential to extend to other hazards. This opportunity is part of a high‑impact research effort focused on advancing the science of seismic performance and data integration for next‑generation codes and standards, directly supporting research transparency and data reuse in performance‑based earthquake engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Synthesize knowledge and extract design, response, damage, and repair data for structural components from experimental programs and reconnaissance reports.
• Develop and manage a robust relational database focused on the seismic performance of structural components.
• Develop consequence models for various structural systems to demonstrate the real‑world application of the unified database.
• Design and implement front‑end tools or user interfaces to facilitate data accessibility for researchers and practitioners.
• Leverage data analysis to unify underlying structural data used to develop design limits by codes and standards for functional recovery and other performance targets.
• Develop computational workflows of U.S. building code design requirements to quantify the impact of proposed updates to building design.
• 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/Structural Engineering or a closely related field, with a strong understanding of the behavior of structural systems.
• Strong background in both experimental testing and numerical analysis of various structural components and systems.
• Strong understanding of U.S. codes and standards.
• Proven experience in advanced data analysis and the development of relational databases (SQL database development required).
• Experience developing and managing Python codebases in git.
• Demonstrated capability or familiarity with developing front‑end software tools and user interfaces.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong publication record in leading peer‑reviewed journals.

Benefits

Salary Range - The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards - Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. 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.