This page lists current job opportunities with the IRIS team. Please follow the links to apply or learn more.
Research Assistantship – IRIS
Dr. Whitney Pagan (Lisenbee) is looking for a PhD student in the area of agricultural water quality, urban hydrology and stormwater, or watershed management. Learn more about the research themes and the position details here.
Applicants for the FALL 2024 semester must apply by December 15!
Please reach out to Dr. Pagan to apply or answer any questions at whitney.lisenbee@uga.edu.

Postdoctoral Researcher – IRIS
The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems at the University of Georgia is hiring for a 1-year, renewable (for a maximum of 5 total years) postdoctoral research position. The successful candidate will work as part of a highly interdisciplinary team researching nature-based solutions (NBS) in riverine and coastal systems. The project is funded by and conducted in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation and approaches NBS as complex adaptive systems. The postdoc will be under the direct supervision of Drs. Susana Ferreira, Craig Landry (Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics), and Brock Woodson (College of Engineering) but will work with the broader team to conduct case studies on the economic and social aspects of NBS particularly in the Colorado and Mississippi River basins. Case studies will include ecosystem service valuation, integrated assessment of NBS infrastructure projects, decision making under risk, uncertainty and ambiguity, and coupled human-natural systems.
- Candidates should have a PhD in economics, applied economics, agricultural economics, civil and environmental engineering, or a related field completed by August 2023. Candidates should also have strong analytical and quantitative skills related to environmental and natural resource economics, as well as strong oral and written communication skills.
- Desired qualifications: experience working on interdisciplinary teams, expertise in coupled human-environment systems, expertise in geospatial methods, data analysis and visualization, experience in environmental valuation and project assessment, expertise in survey design and experimental economics, record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals, experience communicating to diverse audiences.

Manager, Research Engineering – IRIS
The College of Engineering is seeking multiple Limited Term Research Managers to work and manage projects supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Engineering With Nature Initiative and other sponsors of funded research in natural infrastructure and nature-based solutions. These positions will be 12-month staff positions and will be under the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), at the College of Engineering’s School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering (ECAM).
The Limited Term Research Manager will join a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Georgia who are engaged in collaborations between IRIS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), other universities, and private sector partners. These projects are highly specialized due to the incorporation of natural infrastructure systems and nature-based solutions. This position will supervise and coordinate the research, development, and outreach of other Research staff.
- Preference for experience in green and nature-based systems. Candidates should have an advanced degree in engineering, water resources, or related area. Preferred candidates will have five or more years of experience and Professional Engineer licensure (or the ability to obtain one).
- Preference will also be given to candidates with a demonstrated knowledge of stream major drainageway and stormwater facility engineering design, CAD/Civil3D, GIS, hydraulic modeling (HEC-RAS, preferably 1D and 2D), and hydrologic modeling (HEC-HMS, EPA SWMM).

Research Engineer – IRIS
The College of Engineering is seeking multiple Limited-Term Research Engineers to work on projects supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Engineering with Nature Initiative and other sponsors of funded research in natural infrastructure and nature-based solutions. This is a 12-month staff position and will be under the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), at the College of Engineering’s School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering (ECAM). The successful incumbent will join a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Georgia who are engaged in collaborations between IRIS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), other universities, and private sector partners.
- Preference given to candidates with 1-4 years of experience and/or an advanced degree in engineering, water resources, or related area.
- Preference given to candidates with an Engineer-in-Training certification and the ability to pursue Professional Engineer licensure.
- Preference given to candidates who have experience with stream major drainageway and stormwater facility engineering design as well as CAD/Civil3D, GIS, hydraulic modeling (HEC-RAS, preferably 1D and 2D), hydrologic modeling (HEC-HMS, EPA SWMM).
- Preference given to candidates with knowledge and experience working in collaborative and interdisciplinary environments.

Public Service Assistant/Coastal Community Resilience Specialist
This position serves as a technical resource for coastal communities and the state of Georgia as it relates to topics such as climate hazards, resiliency planning, sea level rise, coastal processes, coastal flooding or coastal storms. The University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Coastal Community Resilience Specialist is a public service, non-tenured faculty track position in Coastal Georgia. Primary stakeholders/audience includes academic researchers, municipal staff, and residents. The specialist is expected to leverage their skills, experience and resources to develop and implement extension and outreach programs and provide technical assistance to advance coastal resilience. The specialist will work with existing teams, extension programs, and partners drawing on science, technology, and research data to educate communities about coastal climate adaptation, coastal flooding and hazard mitigation planning. The specialist will cultivate and sustain partnerships and integrate diverse perspectives to advance coastal community resilience.
Headquarters are located in Brunswick, GA with options for other coastal Georgia locations. This position is based in coastal Georgia, but requires state, regional, national and potentially international travel.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies | -Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative climate-related science in the Southeast U.S., particularly Georgia. -Familiarity of coastal and marine environments and issues, particularly as it relates to coastal resilience. -Technical skills in geospatial systems. -Ability to self-motivate, to work independently and as a member of a team, and to develop annual plans of work which include measurable outcomes. -Relevant skills applicable to education and outreach, public speaking, facilitation, technical writing, statistical analysis and computer use. -Strong ability to communicate both verbally and in writing, particularly as it pertains to interpreting/translating research-based technical information for the understanding and use by decision makers, practitioners, and the public. -Strong ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment and to develop productive partnerships and collaborations with diverse stakeholders. -Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment. -Work is typically performed in a general office setting and in diverse field settings. Ability to travel on an as needed basis is essential. |
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