The project is analyzing how flood risk affects the composition of coastal neighborhoods. Understanding the effects of flooding on residential mobility and livelihoods is important for designing policies that support equitable adaptation to coastal flooding, addressing inequities in the impacts of flooding. Increasing flood risk may lead to gentrification as wealthier homeowners who have the resources to defend their homes against rising waters displace lower income households in waterfront locations, or coastal neighborhoods may deteriorate if flood-prone real estate loses value and/or economic activity and incomes decline. The study focuses on the effect of flooding associated with Hurricane Sandy on the composition of coastal neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey. The study will use panel data from the American Community Survey from 2010 to 2020 and data on flooding due to Sandy to compare the change in neighborhood characteristics such as income distribution, education, race, gender, and age over time in locations that were affected by Sandy and similar communities that were not. Dr. Malgosia Madajewicz will mentor the scholar, meeting at least once a week in person or virtually, and more often if needed. She will communicate with the scholar by email and phone as often as necessary.

This is an UNPAID research project.

Faculty Advisor

  • Professor: Malgosia Madajewicz
  • Center/Lab: Center for Climate Systems Research
  • Location: Armstrong Hall
  • Scientists at CCSR conduct research on climate change, the impacts of climate change on human populations and ecosystems, and adaptation of human populations to climate change. The research project will be based in the Climate Impacts Group at CCSR, which focuses on impacts of climate change and on adaptation.

Project Timeline

  • Earliest starting date: 10/4/21
  • End date:
  • Number of hours per week of research expected during Fall 2021: ~5
  • Number of hours per week of research expected during Summer 2022: ~20

Candidate requirements

  • Skill sets: good understanding of statistics; prefer experience with analyzing panel data or willingness to learn the necessary statistical methods; familiarity with at least one statistical software such as Stata, R, or Matlab; excellent attention to detail and organization
  • Student eligibility: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, master’s
  • International students on F1 or J1 visa: NOT eligible
  • Academic Credit Possible: No