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To support efforts outlined in the state’s “Maine Won’t Wait” Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a $69 million grant to the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future through the Inflation Reduction Act. The five-year Resilient Maine project made possible through this award has engaged Maine Sea Grant in collaborative work with communities, state agencies, University of Maine faculty and staff, and many other partners to provide scientific and technical expertise to identify and address coastal hazards, including sea level rise, coastal flooding, and other impacts of climate-driven extreme weather events.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for Coastal Processes with expertise in civil and environmental engineering and experience in community engagement activities in the context of coastal resilience and coastal planning. The primary role of the Postdoctoral Research Associate is to serve as a technical resource for coastal communities and the State of Maine for issues related to climate hazards, coastal storms, and resiliency planning. The associate will contribute outreach expertise in coastal processes and engineering to guide vulnerability assessments and help evaluate alternatives for adaptation to sea level rise along the Maine coast. This 18-month grant-funded position will be supported in partnership with Maine Coastal Program (MCP), Maine Geological Survey (MGS), and faculty from the UMaine Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Additional collaborators on this work will include the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), Maine Climate Science and Information Exchange (MCSIE), and coastal municipalities. The typical hiring range for this soft-money funded position is $60,000 to $70,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience. Funding for this position is currently available for 18 months and is contingent upon continued external funding.

Complete Job Description (https://drive.google.com/file/d/17s01kjDE8SdrjamXry\_1g9J0TlCa67r1/view?usp=sharing)

About the University:

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu.

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits (https://umainesystem.sharepoint.com/sites/USERVICES-UMS-Benefits-Public) for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options.

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Visit the Maine Office of Tourism (https://themainehighlands.com/places-to-visit/greater-bangor-region/) to learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer.

Qualifications:

Required:

+ Doctoral degree in engineering, environmental science, geoscience, or related field.

+ Knowledge and experience in engineering design, modeling, mapping, coastal planning and management, or related activities.

+ Demonstrated understanding of interactions between the built environment, coastal processes, and natural environments.

+ Demonstrated understanding of numerical coastal wave modeling and application to coastal engineering, (e.g., erosion control structures).

+ Familiarity with different scenarios for sea level rise, coastal inundation, and other climate hazards, and their implications for coastal communities.

+ Experience developing and conducting workshops for community, municipal, business or related audiences.

+ Demonstrated capacity for team collaboration, problem-solving, flexibility, and co-development of project plans.

+ Demonstrated experience keeping timely and organized records for the use of multiple project partners and regular project reporting.

+ Effective written and oral communication skills, including facilitation experience and the ability to give informal presentations to groups.

+ Valid driver’s license and ability to drive around the state and meet people in person indoors and out.

Preferred:

+ Familiarity with mapping software and other visualization and modeling tools.

+ Experience with databases, data management, and record keeping.

+ Experience in hazard communication and risk assessment.

+ Experience with community engagement related to technology transfer efforts in engineering design and application.

+ Proposal and grant writing experience.

Other Information:

To be considered for this position you will need to “Apply” and upload the documentation listed below:

1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position

2.) a resume/curriculum vitae

Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide a list of names and contact information for references.

Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

For full consideration, materials must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. EST on June 20, 2025.

For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Jessica Jansujwicz, [email protected].

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report (https://umaine.edu/police/clery-annual-safety-report/) . If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.