SRI Post-Doctoral Fellowship

The College of Science at the University of Utah invites applications for postdoc-level positions to support undergraduate research as part of its Science Research Initiative (SRI) while also carrying out independent research programs and other professional development. The SRI is a unique program that focuses on providing students with authentic research experiences during their first and second years of undergraduate education (https://science.utah.edu/sri/). The SRI Fellow positions offer three years of training in mentorship and teaching, as well as the opportunity to develop high-impact undergraduate research experiences at an institution with a world-class research infrastructure and community. The SRI Fellows divide their time between teaching research courses, mentoring undergraduate students through research projects  developed by the fellow, working on their independent research programs, and professional development. 

SRI Fellows are scientists and mathematicians with Ph.Ds in astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics, physics, and related fields. This year there is a particular emphasis on hiring at least one astronomy-focused Fellow. The position is for three years, subject to review after one year, and can begin as early as July 1, 2023. It provides a salary of at least $57,000 per year, an annual research fund, and benefits including retirement, along with discipline- and pedagogy-specific mentorship. Researchers interested in pursuing academic positions at primarily undergraduate institutions may be especially interested in this position, as SRI fellows will have the opportunity to develop a robust plan for, and gain significant hands-on experience in, undergraduate teaching, and to transfer their research program into their next position.

Responsibilities:

SRI Fellows will spend half their time designing research projects that will be implemented into research “streams” for first- and second-year undergraduate students (see https://science.utah.edu/sri/research-streams/ for examples of current research streams) and teaching and supporting undergraduate courses associated with the SRI. This work includes teaching these research methods courses (both general and discipline-specific) and mentoring students through the research projects. They will also assist faculty PIs with research streams related to their area of interest, help manage student placement into streams, and help evaluate overall program outcomes. Fellows receive their own training and mentoring in support of these goals. 

The other half of the Fellows' time is dedicated to their own research programs, additional pedagogical training and experiences, and/or other professional development activities, depending on their specific career goals. An astronomy-focused SRI Fellow would be embedded within the astronomy group in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and would be encouraged to collaborate on research, teaching, or mentoring efforts. 

To Apply

In their application, candidates should highlight experience in or commitment to: undergraduate teaching; undergraduate mentorship; collaborating constructively with faculty, students, staff, and other SRI Fellows with diverse scientific interests; conceiving and executing complex projects, and supporting a diverse and inclusive learning environment. 

To apply, candidates should visit the link below and submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a CV, (3) a short description of research accomplishments/experience (1 page), (4) a short description of 2-3 proposed research streams, including any specialized equipment needed to complete the research (2-3 pages), (5) a teaching/mentorship statement (1-2 pages), (6) a brief statement identifying 2-3 potential faculty contacts (2-3 sentences for each) who would be appropriate to work with on the proposed research streams and/or support the candidate’s development, and (7) contact information for three references who may be contacted following an initial review of applications.

All documents should be submitted in PDF format here: https://employment.utah.edu/salt-lake-city-ut/sri-postdoc/6895448A24A64D0884620B0361CFBA35/job/

For full consideration, applications must be received by January 15, 2023. E-mail any questions to [email protected].