The recovery of cities after disaster can be a complex and lengthy process. This paper focuses on the case of New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and subject to below city- average return and rebuilding rates. Why, despite major funding to implement plans and programs, does the Lower Ninth Ward lag behind in its recovery, and what role does vulnerability play? Integrated research approaches for urban disaster recovery can serve to analyze the long-term outcomes of plans and programs for reconstruction and rebuilding viewed against the background of pre-existing vulnerability. The approach employed in this paper draws from socio-spatial perspectives in the respective 'urbanist' and 'disaster' discourses. Data were collected within an empirical case study in 2007 and 2009 using quantitative and qualitative mixed methods in the Lower Ninth Ward. There seems to be a disconnect between the plans and programs for the city's recovery and the vulnerability of impacted residents. The aim of the paper is to discuss how integrated research approaches can contribute to resilient and just future planning for urban post-disaster recovery. Originally presented at the Urban Affairs Association 41st Conference, New Orleans USA, 17.03.2011 The original intent of the paper was to discuss the author's then-ongoing dissertation project on urban recovery in New Orleans (Kammerbauer 2013a). The following is the 2014 edited version of the original paper. It addresses reviewers' comments on the previous draft version, is less exploratory in regard to the research interests, and more focused on the central themes of the case study. Contact the author: mark.kammerbauer@nexialist.com An integrated Socio-Spatial Research Approach for Urban Disaster Recovery Author: Mark Kammerbauer Presented paper, Urban Affairs Association 41st Conference, New Orleans USA, 17.03.2011 An integrated Socio-Spatial Research Approach for long-term Urban Disaster Recovery