Postdoctoral Fellow - job 1 of 3

Job Posting Title:

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Hiring Department:

Department of Marine Science

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Jan 05, 2026

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Jan 04, 2027

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Location:

PORT ARANSAS, TX

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Job Details:

The MMAR Lab is looking for a motivated scientist to join our newly formed group as a postdoctoral scholar. The position focuses on microbial ecology, ecosystem modeling, and ocean-estuarine dynamics. This project is part of a bigger collaboration with other faculty at UTMSI funded through the Texas Gulf Coast Research Center (https://marinescience.utexas.edu/research/texas-gulf-coast-research-center) and aims to develop a novel ecosystem model for an estuarine-ocean exchange region in the Gulf Coast.

The candidate will have strong computational experience, will work developing an ecosystem model, and will also have the opportunity to collaborate in other research projects led by the MMAR Lab. The candidate is highly encouraged to develop the ecosystem model towards their own research questions and interests and apply for their own funding if desirable.

Start date is negotiable but not later than January 2026. Funding is available for up to 2 years given satisfactory performance in the first year.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an ecosystem model to investigate ocean-estuarine dynamics in the Gulf Coast.

• Integrate empirical data (physical and chemical observations and ecological data covering from microbes to fishes) to parameterize and validate models

• Foster interdisciplinary partnerships with UTMSI and external collaborators to advance shared research goals

• Lead scientific publications and present in scientific meetings

Required Qualifications

• PhD, within the last 3 years, in oceanography, ecology, computer science or related discipline

• Demonstrated proficiency in a programming language, along with strong computational and quantitative skills in areas such as data analysis, statistical modeling, machine learning, numerical modeling, or remote sensing

Preferred Qualifications

• A general understanding of ecosystem modeling or ocean circulation models is desirable

Salary Range

$60,000 - $70,000

Working Conditions

• May work in less-than-ideal weather conditions when conducting field work

• Normal laboratory working conditions

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest (please include a summary of your qualifications (i.e. previous research experience, relevant skills, training in quantitative methods) and interest in the position including potential projects/subjects that you would like to pursue.

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.