Research Associate III – Coastal Hazards Modeling & GIS

The University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Rhode Island seeks a Research Associate III to provide advanced technical support for natural hazards decision-support tools. You will lead CHAMP operations, develop GIS dashboards, and translate model outputs into user-friendly GIS products for planners and emergency managers.

The role focuses on coastal hazard modeling, atmospheric and hydrological data integration, and extending CHAMP capabilities with AI/ML-oriented discussions.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in GIS, engineering, oceanography, environmental science, geosciences, computer science, or a closely related field.
• Three or more years of professional experience in GIS or a related field.
• Advanced knowledge of the Esri ArcGIS platform (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online/Enterprise).
• Experience deploying model outputs through web-based or interactive visualization tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate existing applied workflows and maintain dashboards during initial work period.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance advanced GIS products, including dashboards and map-based decision-support tools.
• Use GIS tools to manage hydrological and land-use datasets for environmental and flood modeling.
• Produce GIS-based risk and vulnerability reports for long-term planning and projects.
• Lead operational workflows for CHAMP modeling systems and ensure documentation and continuity.

Skills

GIS analysis

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in GIS/related field

Tools

Esri ArcGIS

Python scripting

Web mapping

Job description

80 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881

Position Information

Posting Number: SF02203

Job Title

Position Number: PS#00008195

FTE: 1.00

FLSA: Exempt

Position Type: Professional Staff

Union: PSA/NEA - Professional Staff Assoc

Pay Grade Range Salary Hiring Range: $70,000 - $80,000

Status: Calendar Year, Full-time, Limited

Department Information

Department

Contact(s)

Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)

Contact Phone/Extension

Contact Email

Physical Demands

Campus Location

Kingston

Grant Funded

Yes

Position is full-time calendar year, limited to 01/08/2028 with possible renewal.

Job Description Summary

Search will be open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 09/30/2026. Applications received after 09/30/2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

About URI:

The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.

Opportunity for Hybrid Work Schedule

Hybrid work schedule is possible after six months.

Position Summary

The Research Associate III will provide advanced technical support for natural hazards decision support tools at the University of Rhode Island. URI has dedicated significant expertise and resources to develop a suite of tools, including the Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling and Prediction system (CHAMP), STORMTOOLS, and MyCoast: Rhode Island, which play key roles in addressing storm risks and predicting the impacts of sea level rise and increasing wind and precipitation.

CHAMP is an interdisciplinary system developed and maintained by a team of 10-15 researchers and staff spanning Marine Affairs, Ocean Engineering, Oceanography, and RI Sea Grant. The system is in active operational use at the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and supports ongoing projects with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. This position will support applied coastal hazards research that leverages numerical storm and compound flood modeling (rainfall-driven and wind-driven) and geospatial decision-support systems to advance the goals of the Rhode Island Natural Hazards Collaborative, and will serve as the operational and technical lead for CHAMP.

The CHAMP team is actively exploring opportunities to integrate AI and machine learning tools into system development, operations, and decision-support products. Candidates with relevant experience or interest in this area are encouraged to discuss it in their application materials.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of Austin Becker, Principal Investigator in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, the Research Associate III will lead the ongoing operation of coastal storm models and application of geospatial information systems. The position focuses on developing and transitioning science-based modeling and GIS tools into reliable, user-focused operational decision-support products for planning, management, and public communication, with primary emphasis on the Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling, and Prediction System (see www.RICHAMP.org).

• Operate existing applied workflows and maintain dashboards during initial work period.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance advanced GIS products, including interactive dashboards, spatial analysis tools, and map-based decision-support products.
• Use GIS tools to acquire, process, and manage hydrological and land-use datasets in support of environmental and flood modeling applications.
• Produce GIS-based risk and vulnerability reports to support long-term planning, research, and stakeholder needs.
• Design, implement, and manage GIS systems that support tiered user access and varying security and permission levels.
• Run and translate model outputs into accessible, user-driven GIS products for planners, emergency managers, researchers, and the public.
• Coordinate with Environmental Data Center staff to support data management, system performance, hosting, and long-term reliability of GIS infrastructure.
• Support real-time ADCIRC model deployment during storm events, including hurricanes and nor’easters. This requires availability on short notice, including during evenings, weekends, and vacation periods, and is a core expectation of the position.
• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development in support of funded projects, including identifying funding opportunities and assisting with technical narratives.
• Contribute to outreach products, briefings, and presentations associated with the RI Natural Hazards Tools Collaborative.
• Collaborate with investigators and researchers to integrate modeling outputs with observational data, including real-time data streams where appropriate.
• Assist in the preparation of technical documentation, reports, peer-reviewed papers, and modeling-related deliverables for funded projects.

Work with the modeling team to develop, implement, and maintain numerical inland and coastal storm models, with emphasis on GIS-based HEC systems (HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS) and ADCIRC/SWAN and related hydrological and hydrodynamic modeling frameworks.

Support model setup, execution, calibration, validation, and post-processing for applied inland and coastal hazards research and decision support.

Lead operational workflows for CHAMP modeling systems, including documentation, version control, and continuity planning.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Perform additional duties as required.

Licenses, Tools, and Equipment

Computers, printers; geographic information system (GIS), word processing, data management, spreadsheet software. Must provide own transportation.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in GIS, engineering, oceanography, environmental science, geosciences, computer science, or a closely related field.
• Three or more years of professional experience in GIS or a related field.
• Advanced knowledge of the Esri ArcGIS platform, including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online or Enterprise environments.
• Demonstrated experience with Esri map series tools, model builder, coding or scripting in Python, in support of GIS or modeling workflows.
• Experience deploying model outputs through web-based or interactive visualization tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Jupyter Notebook and/or Linux-based HPC environments, including job scheduling, scripting, and running large-scale environmental models.
• Demonstrated experience with compound flooding models integrating hydrologic, hydraulic, and coastal processes (e.g., HEC-RMS / RAS, ADCIRC / SWAN).
• Experience developing interactive dashboards, web-based GIS applications, and automated data pipelines.
• Experience contributing to grant proposals or technical narratives for funded research projects.
• Experience with or interest in applying AI or machine learning tools to environmental modeling or geospatial decision-support applications.
• Strong interest in natural hazards resilience and its application to planning, emergency management, and public decision-making.

EEO Statement

URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state’s public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts. All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.

Environmental Conditions

The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Posting Date

09/02/2026