Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Natural Hazards Modeling at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

The Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track Assistant/Associate/Full Professor position with a specialization in the field of Natural Hazards Modeling, with an anticipated start date of August 2025. The successful candidate will be offered a joint appointment in the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience and the Lehigh University department that best matches the candidate's interests and background.

Candidates must have an earned PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Geological Sciences, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Physics, Computer Science and Engineering, Ecological Sciences or other pertinent field by the date of employment. Example areas of interest in natural hazard modeling include but are not limited to tropical cyclone simulation, extreme weather events, seismic hazards, space weather and astro-hazards, statistical physics of natural hazards, wildfire modeling, and flood modeling. Candidates must have a record of publications in top journals, commensurate with their years of experience. Candidates at the Associate and Full Professor levels must have a demonstrated record of securing external funding and mentoring doctoral students.

The individual hired will be expected to teach courses in Natural Hazard Modeling, Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, and other topics related to the selected home department, at the graduate and undergraduate levels, engage in scholarly activities, and participate in center, department, college, and university service. The successful candidate will be expected to actively engage with the interdisciplinary research activities of the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience. Candidates at the Associate and Full Professor levels are also expected to lead collaborative research proposals and projects within and beyond the center.

The Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience is a university-wide, interdisciplinary research center focused on science, engineering, and social science applied to natural disasters and health-related threats. This field is an area of distinction for Lehigh University, and it was selected as a major area of investment in its Strategic Plan. The center is expected to more than double its faculty over the next five years, through strategic hires at the early career and established levels. Lehigh University has established the first degree programs in the Nation on the topic of Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, a Master of Science program, and a Graduate Certificate. The center's faculty and personnel have decades of experience in resilience analysis and the development of models for catastrophe modeling and resilience-based decision-making. The center is running small and large research projects, in collaboration with a vast array of academic, government, and private sector partners.

Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. Recognized among the nation's highly-ranked research universities, Lehigh offers a rigorous academic community for over 7,500 students. Lehigh University has some 5,800 undergraduates, 1,800 graduate students, and nearly 600 full-time faculty members. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA, a vibrant and historic area. Over 840,000 people live in the Lehigh Valley, which is in close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by December 16th, 2024. Applicants should submit their materials online. Candidates should submit the following materials:

● Cover letter

● Curriculum vitae

● Research statement that describes past scholarly contributions and future research directions

● Teaching statement that describes instructional philosophy and courses that the candidate would want to teach or develop

● A statement on contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that describes the knowledge, prior DEI experience, and the candidate's future plans for enhancing community and culture at Lehigh (the Lehigh ADVANCE Center's guide for understanding and preparing such statements is available here)

● Contact information for three references.

Any inquiries regarding this search should be directed to Profs. Benjamin Felzer and Ethan Yang, Co-Chairs of the search committee, at bsf208@lehigh.edu and yey217@lehigh.edu.

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We are committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. Lehigh University is committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. Lehigh University is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation award for promoting the careers of women in academic sciences and engineering and is among institutions of higher education recognized for excellence in diversity with the INSIGHT into Diversity HEED Award. Additional information about Lehigh's commitment to diversity and inclusion is available at diversityandinclusion.lehigh.edu. Lehigh University provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits. More information about Work/Life Balance for Faculty can be found at provost.lehigh.edu/resources/worklife-balance. Lehigh University supports dual career efforts for following spouses/partners of newly hired faculty; see provost.lehigh.edu/resources/faculty-dual-career-assistance-program/dual-career-guidelines.