Postdoctoral Fellow

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin (TX)

On-site

USD 58,500 - 71,500

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A major research university in Austin is looking for a talented Postdoctoral Fellow to develop climate data products and tools. The role involves market research and collaboration with various stakeholders including researchers and community groups. Ideal candidates will have a PhD earned within the last three years, experience in software development, and strong communication skills. This full-time position is expected to continue until January 31, 2025, with a salary starting at $65,000.

Qualifications

PhD must have been earned within the past three years.
One year of experience in Software development or system administration.
Production experience with at least two computer programming languages.

Responsibilities

Create and enhance products that fulfill city data needs tied to climate mitigation and impact.
Develop climate data products and tools to make data accessible and usable.
Consult climate scientists to ensure products are accurate and replicable.

Skills

Software development

System administration

Programming languages

Visual communication

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

Computational tools

Statistical products

Job description

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Hiring Department

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Job Posting Title

Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Open To

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours

FLSA Status

Exempt

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Position Duration

Expected to Continue Until Jan 31, 2025

Location

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details

The University of Texas, working with the City of Austin, is looking for an enthusiastic Postdoctoral Fellow to create prototypes, improve existing tools and generate effective communication strategies and data visualization. The position includes conducting market research, collaborating with researchers, students, technical specialists, and community groups to help advance product deliverables and provide input to the communications of the UT City+Climate CoLab. The ideal candidate has engineering and design knowledge, solid understanding of the prototype design process, and strong written and verbal communication skills, is highly innovative, possesses the ability to problem‑solve, and works well within a team.

In collaboration with City departments, faculty from the Jackson School of Geosciences, LBJ School of Public Affairs, School of Architecture and Cockrell School of Engineering aim to mitigate the source and effects of climate change induced extreme weather including extreme heat waves, wildfires, grass fires, drought, flooding, poor air quality and other health shocks and stressors. This collaboration (CoLab) between the City of Austin and University of Texas, the first of its kind, is looking for a candidate to develop effective climate datasets, visualizations, and products and tools related to downscaled and local data sets. The candidate would also contribute actively to communications (memos, newsletters etc.), scientific reports and data briefs, and draft content (e.g. press releases) for media or website.

The Product Developer position will report to UT faculty in Jackson School and more broadly to the Climate CoLab staff to fulfill product and communication needs for a portfolio of projects, initiatives, and/or policy proposals related to City climate data needs and university faculty capabilities.

Purpose

To conduct market research, collaborate with researchers, students, technical specialists, and community groups to help advance product deliverables and provide input to the communications of the UT City+Climate CoLab.

Responsibilities

Create and enhance products that fulfill city data needs tied to climate mitigation and impact.
Determine product specifications according to a number of various factors and uses.
Support design and communicate activities by developing tools and prototypes for products in development.
Consult climate scientists locally and nationally to ensure products are accurate and replicable.
Develop climate data products and tools to make it accessible and usable.
Effective communication of data and tools for climate centric decisions and strategies.
Manage internal communications (memos, newsletters etc.).
Draft content (e.g. press releases) for mass media or company website.
Liaise with the UT information office and handle requests for interviews, statements etc.
Foster relationships with community advocates and key persons.
Collaborate with faculty to produce copy for articles.
Assist in communication of strategies or messages from senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

PhD must have been earned within the past three years.
One year of experience in Software development or system administration.
Production experience with at least two computer programming languages.
Proven experience as climate and data product.
Solid understanding of project management principles.
Experience in visual communication.

Preferred Qualifications

PhD with experience in developing climate data products and tools and helping lead the project activities. In exceptional cases, candidates with Masters or even Bachelor's degree may be considered if they are able to provide convincing evidence of exceptional fit to the position.
Proven working experience as a product developer or in a related field.
Work well within a team.
Problem‑solving skills plus creative and innovative thinking skills.
Solid understanding and working with of computational tools, statistical products, scripting using MS Office; photo and video‑editing software is an asset.
Excellent communication (oral and written) and presentation skills.
Outstanding organizational and planning abilities.
Proficient command of English. Fluency in another language a plus.

Salary Range

$65,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Standard office work conditions
Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
Use of manual dexterity

Required Materials

Resume/CV
3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers

You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi‑select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers

As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log‑in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E‑Verify

E‑Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
E‑Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and report under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP‑3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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