Ph.D. Student & Postdoctoral Researcher Positions at Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston (Spring/Fall 2025)

The Beck Research Group in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston is excited to announce fully funded positions for Ph.D. students and a postdoctoral researcher for the Spring or Fall 2025 semesters. These opportunities are ideal for individuals passionate about advancing equity-based infrastructure decision support and improving community resilience to hazards through cutting-edge research.

Research Focus: Equity-Based Infrastructure Decision Support

The Beck Research Group's primary research revolves around developing equity-based decision support tools for civil infrastructure and advancing social impact performance-based engineering. Our research aims to enhance community resilience against hazards like hurricanes, earthquakes, and climate change. By integrating structural reliability, risk assessment, systems modeling, and probabilistic methods with social science approaches, we address critical challenges in civil infrastructure.

Key areas of research interest include:

• Equity-Based Decision Support Tools: Developing tools for civil infrastructure (e.g., buildings, electric networks) under various hazards, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and climate change.
• Infrastructure Quality and Outage Impact Modeling: Conducting fieldwork and statistical modeling to understand and predict the impact of infrastructure quality and outages.
• Community Social Impact Design Thresholds: Establishing design thresholds that incorporate social impacts into system reliability methods to improve community resilience.

Qualifications and Requirements

For Ph.D. Students:

• Educational Background: Applicants should have a B.S. and M.S. degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related fields. While candidates with an M.S. degree are preferred, those seeking direct admission to the Ph.D. program will also be considered.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in structural reliability/engineering, probabilistic methods, and natural hazards engineering. Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, MATLAB, or R are essential.
• Additional Skills: Proficiency in GIS or other geospatial software and fieldwork experience in data collection (e.g., surveys, damage assessment) is highly desirable.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills are required. A strong interest in interdisciplinary work and collaboration is also essential.

For Postdoctoral Researchers:

• Educational Background: A Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field is required.
• Research Experience: A proven track record of strong publications and presentations of technical work is necessary.
• Teamwork and Leadership: The ability to work effectively with a team and other researchers across disciplines is crucial. Experience in supervising and mentoring junior scientists is highly valued.

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by contacting Dr. Abigail Beck via email at albeck2@central.uh.edu. The email subject should be "Prospective PhD Student - [Your Name]" or "Prospective Postdoc - [Your Name]."Applicants should include the following documents:

• CV/Resume: A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting your academic and professional achievements.
• Letter of Interest: A brief letter describing your research interests, previous experience, and how they align with the research focus of the Beck Research Group.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
• Representative Publication: A publication that showcases your research abilities, if applicable.
• TOEFL/GRE Scores: If applicable, please include your test scores.

About Dr. Abigail Beck

Dr. Abigail Beck is an incoming Assistant Professor at the University of Houston. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she specialized in structural reliability and probabilistic methods. Dr. Beck is an interdisciplinary-trained civil/structural engineer who combines her expertise in engineering with field-based and community-engaged social science approaches to address infrastructure equity.

Her research is at the intersection of engineering and social science, focusing on how infrastructure design and performance impact communities, particularly in the context of equity and resilience. Dr. Beck's work aims to develop tools and methods that not only enhance the physical reliability of infrastructure but also consider the social and economic factors that influence community resilience.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston (UH) is a premier research institution located just minutes from downtown Houston, Texas. With over 45,000 students enrolled, UH is one of the nation's leading public research universities and a top-tier institution known for its diverse academic programs and cutting-edge research.

Houston: A Hub of Innovation and Opportunity

Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, is known as the "Energy Capital of the World" and is home to a thriving economy and a vibrant cultural scene. The city hosts NASA's Johnson Space Center, the Port of Houston, and the Texas Medical Center—the largest medical complex in the world. Houston's diverse and dynamic environment provides a unique backdrop for research in civil and environmental engineering, particularly in areas related to infrastructure and community resilience.

The city's rich history in energy, aerospace, and medical industries, combined with its rapid growth and urban development, makes it an ideal location for research that bridges engineering and social science. The greater Houston region offers numerous opportunities to engage with real-world challenges, refine research methods, and implement solutions that address infrastructure equity and resilience.

Opportunities for Ph.D. Students and Postdoctoral Researchers

Joining the Beck Research Group at the University of Houston provides a unique opportunity to work on innovative research projects that have real-world impact. Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers will have the chance to:

• Contribute to Groundbreaking Research: Work on projects that develop equity-based decision support tools and social impact performance-based engineering methods.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Engage with researchers from various fields, including engineering, social sciences, and public policy, to address complex challenges in civil infrastructure.
• Develop Professional Skills: Gain experience in fieldwork, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as develop leadership and mentoring skills.
• Publish and Present Research: Contribute to scholarly publications and present research findings at conferences and workshops.
• Impact Communities: Conduct research that directly contributes to improving community resilience and addressing infrastructure equity.

Research Areas and Ongoing Projects

The Beck Research Group is involved in several ongoing projects that align with its research focus on equity-based infrastructure decision support and community resilience. Some of the key research areas include:

• Hazard Modeling and Risk Assessment: Developing models to assess the risks posed by natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and climate change on civil infrastructure. This research involves probabilistic methods to predict infrastructure performance under various scenarios and to identify vulnerabilities.
• Social Impact Performance-Based Engineering: Integrating social science approaches with engineering methods to develop performance-based criteria that consider the social impacts of infrastructure design and failure. This research aims to create more resilient and equitable infrastructure systems that better serve communities.
• Community Resilience and Equity: Investigating the relationship between infrastructure performance and community resilience, with a focus on equity. This research explores how infrastructure failures disproportionately affect marginalized communities and seeks to develop solutions that promote equitable resilience.
• Fieldwork and Data Collection: Conducting fieldwork to collect data on infrastructure quality, outage impacts, and community responses to hazards. This data is used to inform models and tools that support decision-making in infrastructure planning and management.

How to Apply

To apply for the Ph.D. student or postdoctoral researcher positions at the Beck Research Group, follow these steps:

• Prepare Your Application Materials: Gather your CV/Resume, letter of interest, transcripts, representative publication (if applicable), and TOEFL/GRE scores (if applicable).
• Email Your Application: Send your application materials to Dr. Abigail Beck at albeck2@central.uh.edu with the appropriate subject line ("Prospective PhD Student - [Your Name]" or "Prospective Postdoc - [Your Name]").
• Await Confirmation: After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email. Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

The Beck Research Group at the University of Houston offers a unique and exciting opportunity for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers interested in advancing equity-based infrastructure decision support and social impact performance-based engineering. With fully funded positions available for Spring and Fall 2025, this is an ideal opportunity for motivated individuals to contribute to groundbreaking research that has the potential to make a significant impact on communities and infrastructure systems.

By joining the Beck Research Group, you will be part of a dynamic team working at the forefront of civil and environmental engineering, with access to world-class resources and opportunities to collaborate with experts across disciplines. If you are passionate about research that bridges engineering and social science and want to contribute to building more resilient and equitable communities, we encourage you to apply.

For more information and to start your application, contact Dr. Abigail Beck at albeck2@central.uh.edu. We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Houston and to the Beck Research Group.