Postdoctoral Fellow (SHIELD)

Job Posting Title: Postdoctoral Fellow (SHIELD) ---- Hiring Department: Institute for Geophysics ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Exempt ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Feb 01, 2027 ---- Location: PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS ---- Job Details: Purpose The Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to study Earth hazards under the Project SHIELD initiative (Science for Hazards, Impact, Evaluation, and Long-term Defense). The successful candidate will develop integrative research approaches to investigate Earth hazards from fundamental physics principles to risk determinations that closely align with societal needs. Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Project SHIELD business plan and discuss potential projects with two or more JSG faculty/researchers. About the Position Project SHIELD aims to understand fundamental processes related to Earth hazards and deliver accurate, impactful hazard and risk science to stakeholders in a timely manner. Project SHIELD aims to deliver quantitative tools for stakeholders to improve risk and loss determinations and assess the overall impact of Earth hazards on populations, infrastructure, and the environment. From volcanoes to earthquakes, landslides to tsunamis, floods to heatwaves, the US, specifically, and Earth, more broadly, are constantly exposed to natural hazards. The frequency and severity of these hazards are changing based on a variety of environmental, anthropogenic, and other compounding factors. The ability to identify appropriate solutions to mitigate Earth risks to complex socioeconomic systems is challenging. Project SHIELD aims to understand the processes driving these hazards, which provides important information to improve understanding of risk. Exposure to earth hazards is increasing faster than mitigation strategies are developing; therefore, workflows to target risk reduction are needed, as are ongoing adaptive capacity and transfer mechanisms to stakeholders in a timely manner. Both bottom-up and top-down approaches are needed and expected to be developed. Bottom-up approaches leverage the wealth of knowledge and experience of faculty and researchers in the JSG to guide gaps in current research, leverage datasets, and experience co-designing mitigation and management plans. Top-down approaches focus on the requirements from stakeholders to assess goals and explore management options. Project SHIELD relies on strong input and collaboration from stakeholders to advance the understanding of acceptable risk, improve community resilience, and provide assistance on improvements to Earth hazard risk management. The successful candidate is expected to pursue self-directed Earth hazard research, aligned with Project SHIELD’s goals, building on and expanding existing JSG expertise. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their potential projects with two or more JSG faculty/researchers who will serve as prospective mentors and provide support letters as part of their applications. The successful candidate is also expected to interact with Project SHIELD leadership and stakeholders at regular intervals and as part of integrated research teams. Applicants should have a strong background in Earth hazard research, experience analyzing relevant datasets, strong scientific communication skills, and preferably experience in stakeholder engagement. The position is for 12 months with a negotiable start date. There is a possibility of renewal for up to an additional 12 months contingent on performance. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by January 30, 2026. Responsibilities Conduct Earth hazards research that aligns with Project SHIELD’s goals. Work closely with two or more JSG faculty/researchers, Project SHIELD leadership, and stakeholders. Present research results to the scientific community and the broader public. Contribute to research within a vibrant group of students, postdocs, and researchers across UT. Required Qualifications Ph.D. in a field relevant to Earth hazards (geophysics, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, hydrology, or allied disciplines), completed within the last three years. Research experience with Earth hazards and relevant datasets. Preferred Qualifications Experience engaging with stakeholders responsible for Earth hazard risk management Strong written and verbal communication skills. Strong publication record in closely related research topics. Salary $70,000 Working Conditions Typical office environment Required Materials Cover letter and resume (including a list of publications) Research proposal (up to two pages) A letter of recommendation (1-page) from two potential JSG mentors (faculty/researchers) Contact information of three references The research proposal and support letters should include how this research contributes to the goals of Project SHIELD and expands current capabilities with strong stakeholder engagement. 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: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval. 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. 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: 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: http://www.utexas.edu/hr/documents/EverifyPosterEnglish.pdf http://www.utexas.edu/hr/documents/EverifyPosterSpanish.pdf http://www.utexas.edu/hr/documents/RightToWorkPosterEnglish.pdf http://www.utexas.edu/hr/documents/RightToWorkPosterSpanish.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). 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 2021 report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe, Suite UTA 2.206, Austin, TX 78701. ---- 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: 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] ---- 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. Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin, tradition meets innovation in the heart of a city that frequents lists of the best places to live and work. Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world-changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000 students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world. Looking for a student job? Please see our Student Employment site. Comments and Inquiries: Email comments to hrsc@austin.utexas.edu. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at (512) 471-4772, or toll-free at (800) 687-4178. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus