Natural Hazards Research Scientist

FM Global is a leading property insurer of the world's largest businesses, providing more than one-third of FORTUNE 1000-size companies with engineering-based risk management and property insurance solutions. FM Global helps clients maintain continuity in their business operations by drawing upon state-of-the-art loss-prevention engineering and research; risk management skills and support services; tailored risk transfer capabilities; and superior financial strength. To do so, we rely on a dynamic, culturally diverse group of employees, working in more than 100 countries, in a variety of challenging roles.

Please note: This posting is not an indication that there are job openings currently available. By applying to this opportunity, you are expressing interest in a Research Scientist job in Norwood, MA should an opening become available.

Exciting and interesting technical challenges await when you join a world-class research team dedicated to reducing the impact of natural hazards. As a leader in property loss-prevention, FM Global has been on the forefront of innovation since 1835 paving the way for many insurance industry firsts. As part of our research division, you’ll work alongside a unique group of scientists across engineering, earth, and atmospheric sciences to protect the value of FM Global's clients' businesses by developing methods to identify hazards, assess risk, and produce loss prevention solutions that are efficient and cost-effective.

Interested in a career with our Structures and Natural Hazards group? The following are some of the areas where we are always seeking specialized research professionals.

• Geological Sciences team studies the hazards and effects of earthquakes and tsunamis.
  • Seismology and geology: characterize seismic sources, propagation, and site response for hazard evaluation.
  • Ground motion: investigate factors that influence earthquake ground motions; construct site response maps.
  • Tsunami: characterize subduction zone earthquakes; model tsunami initiation, propagation, and run-up.
  • Shake table: subject specimens to shaking; develop loss prevention solutions to mitigate shaking damage.
• Meteorological Science team studies severe weather, climate change, and other atmospheric perils, and the impacts on building envelope components.
  • Hazard: develop hazard maps for extreme weather events including tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, and winter storms.
  • Numerical modeling: model weather, climate, and wind-induced coastal storm surge.
  • Wind: develop wind load recommendations for building components and cladding using boundary layer wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamic simulations.
  • Mitigation: identify solutions to reduce loss from building envelope failures.
• Hydrological Sciences team studies fluvial and pluvial flood hazards.
  • Heavy precipitation: investigate the physical and statistical properties of flood-causing precipitation using rain gauge and remote sensing data, and numerical weather model outputs.
  • Hydrologic flood modeling: estimate flood discharges at global to local scales, modeling the water fluxes from precipitation to river overflow.
  • Hydrodynamic flood modeling: one and two dimensional, small to large scale, using commercial software and developing in-house models.
• Structural Mechanics team covers response and damage of structural and non-structural systems, contents and equipment.
  • Finite element modeling: model structures, non-structural components, equipment, and fracture mechanics; analysis of commercial and industrial materials and products.
  • Loading: evaluate structural vulnerability, damage, and risk under natural hazard and fire loading.
  • Material properties: study thermal and mechanical properties of materials used in construction and mechanical equipment.  
  • Mitigation: identify and develop loss prevention solutions for structural systems, components, and products to reduce the risks associated with natural hazards and fire.

Qualifications include a Ph.D. degree, strong research record in the area of interest, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. A solid background in probability and statistics, proven technical programming and modeling experience, and knowledge of model physics, principles, setup, calibration, validation and sound analysis practices are highly desired. Senior applicants must have demonstrated project management abilities. The job title and compensation depend on qualifications and experience.