Senior researcher
A part-time senior researcher is sought for a position in Construction Engineering and Cost Modeling to
support the development and implementation of a new nonstructural component fragility and
consequence database for performance-based hazard assessments of buildings. NIST has recently
developed a relational database focusing on nonstructural elements in buildings, NED (Nonstructural
Element Database), which collects information from experimental, analytical, and historic performance
observations into seismic fragilities and consequence models to support building-specific seismic
performance research and assessments, refactoring and expanding upon the FEMA P-58 database as the
standard of practice for seismic risk assessment. Currently, the project is still in its active development and
does not yet have consequence models or data from historical events, but it has collected over 2500
experimental data points and compiled a fragility data set that includes and expands upon the full FEMA P-
58 nonstructural database. NIST will supplement its capacities with input from PREP Fellow experts in the
areas of component damage consequence modeling, repair cost estimation, and construction sequencing.
The PREP Fellow will work with NIST researchers to develop and implement a new consequence model data
schema and consequence estimation procedures within the NED database. The work, to be completed in
collaboration with NIST researchers and other external contractors, will be comprised of the following five
major tasks: (1) review, refactoring and forward developing of the current database architecture and data
schema, (2) development of a general consequence model database architecture and schema, and (3)
implementation of new consequence models into the database, (4) back-end and front-end software
development, and (5) documentation of developments and tools and dissemination in technical reports
and professional conferences.
Please upload the following with your application:
Curriculum vitae
Nonstructural Element Consequence Modeling
- U.S. citizenship is preferred.
- More than 15 years of experience in professional cost estimation and cost modeling the construction
industry. - A strong background in engineering, natural hazards, and probabilistic risk assessment including
uncertainty quantification. - Experience in the development, application, and implementation of the FEMA P-58 performance-based
assessment framework and associated fragility database. - Proven and documented experience in developing component level repair costs and repair time models
for seismic damage. - The ability to work both independently and as part of a larger, multi-disciplinary team to achieve
project objectives and meet project deadlines and reporting requirements.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Review the current design and data schema of the NED database, paying specific attention to
missing data representations, duplicity in data design, points of unclarity, and capability to scale
with new data and meet future use cases. - Conceptualize and design a robust and scalable repair cost and repair time model for integration
into the NED architecture. - Work closely with NIST researchers and external collaborators to iterate and improve upon the
database design as well as support the implementation of the database. - Contributing to the publication of a NIST report and data repository documenting the database.