Job Posting Title:

Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow

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Hiring Department:

Institute for Geophysics

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2028

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Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

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Job Details:

UT Austin’s Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) in The Jackson School of Geosciences invites applications for its Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship program.

This competitive institutional fellowship is open to recent PhD recipients conducting research in any area of earth and planetary sciences. Appointments are for two years, contingent upon satisfactory performance.

Prior to applying, prospective applicants are expected to identify and contact potential collaborators and mentors at UTIG to discuss research interests and explore opportunities for collaboration. Fellowship recipients will join a vibrant community of postdoctoral researchers, students, research scientists, and faculty and are expected to pursue self-directed research in any scientific subfield that aligns with or expands research directions at UTIG.

Successful applicants will be offered a benefits-eligible position with an annual salary of $72,000. The fellowship also provides $5,000 in discretionary funds for research and travel expenses, and up to $3,000 in one-time relocation expenses. Information for prospective UT employees can be found at https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective.

For full consideration, complete applications must be received by January 15, 2027. We anticipate that decisions will be communicated to candidates by mid-March 2027. Questions about the fellowship may be directed to Cornelia Rasmussen ([email protected]).

Purpose

To conduct independent research at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics within the Jackson School of Geosciences.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research in a field that aligns with or expands existing research directions at UTIG.
• Collaborate with researchers at UTIG and engage with the institute's broader scientific community.
• Present research results to the scientific community and the broader public.

 

Required Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant field. The PhD must have been awarded within three years of the position start date. Applicants must also have at least one peer-reviewed publication.

Candidates will be evaluated based on their research qualifications, including prior research experience, conference participation, awards, proposal writing, publications, and community engagement; the creativity, independence, and feasibility of their proposed research project; and the potential of their research to expand and strengthen scientific directions at UTIG.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and collaborate effectively with others. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Salary Range

$72,000

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• May involve laboratory and field work.

Required Materials

• Cover letter (1 page) describing the applicant's research interests and prior work and addressing how the applicant meets the criteria for the fellowship.
• Curriculum vitae including education, employment history, publications (including DOIs), record of extramural funding, if applicable, and community engagement activities.
• Research proposal (2 pages), including figures but excluding references, describing the applicant's proposed research and specific plans for the fellowship.
• Names and contact information for three references willing to provide letters of recommendation.

 

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.

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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.

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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.

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Background Checks:

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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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). 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.