RESEARCH ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE/FULL SCIENTIST
Job Description:The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida invites applications for a full-time, time-limited, non-tenure track, 12-month faculty position at the rank of Research Assistant/Associate/Full Scientist.
The Precision Space Systems Laboratory (PSSL) in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida is seeking to fill positions in the area of space technology development for precision space inertial sensors for the NASA-ESA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) gravitational wave observatory and the Gravitational Reference Advanced Technology In Space mission (GRATTIS).
Duties and responsibilities: Be a technical lead for space technology development and flight hardware fabrication, integration, and testing for the LISA Charge Management Device and for precision accelerometers for GRATTIS. Technical expertise involves some or all of the following: Capacitive sensors, electrostatic actuators, mechanisms and mechanical design, low-noise digital and analog electronics, optomechanics, including fiber optics, flight software/firmware development, dynamics and control design, numerical simulations of spacecraft dynamics, and data analysis. Mentor graduate and undergraduate students involved in these projects and support technical and programmatic reports and reviews, journal articles and conference presentations.
The University of Florida is the flagship campus of the State of Florida university system and currently ranked as one of the top-6 best public universities, 6th according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report of Best Colleges. UF is home to HiPerGator, which ranks 3rd among university supercomputers in the nation. In addition, the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is currently implementing a major expansion of faculty and state-of-the-art research and education facilities with a focus on AI. The Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology, a 260,000 sq feet facility that serves as the hub for Artificial Intelligence, opened in Fall 2023. The College will reach 300 faculty members this year. For more information about our college initiatives, please visit http://eng.ufl.edu. The University and College count among its greatest strengths a value of broad diversity among faculty, students and staff and a robust, inclusive, and welcoming climate for learning and research. UF is committed to equal educational and employment opportunity and access and seeks individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, and other attributes who, among their many exceptional qualifications, have a record of including a broad diversity of individuals in research and learning activities.
Expected Salary:Salary to commensurate with education and experience.
Minimum Requirements:Ph.D. degree in Mechanical and/or Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Astrophysics, or a closely related discipline plus 4 years of experience.
Preferred Qualifications:The ideal candidate would have knowledge and experience in a sub-set of the following topics is desired: Design, development, fabrication, integration and testing, flight operations for space flight programs; Mechanical/thermal design for space systems; Fiber-coupled lasers and LEDs and associated analog current drivers; Digital electronics, microprocessors, and FPGAs; Development of flight software/firmware for microprocessors and FPGAs, including VHDL; Experience with laboratory experiments, including the use of vacuum systems, UV and IR light sources and detectors, data acquisition and instrumentation.
Special Instructions to Applicants:The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to receive applications until the position is filled. You must apply by submitting an application through UFCareers via https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/listing/ (Job 533295). The application consists of attached PDF files of the following required documents: 1. Cover letter (summary and introduction; relate to hiring emphasis areas) 2. Curriculum vitae. 3. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references. Additional documents should be uploaded as one PDF to the “other documents” selection in the application. The anticipated start date for this position is Fall 2024. For additional questions, contact Dr. John Conklin, jwconklin@ufl.edu.
The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
If accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.
The University of Florida is committed to nondiscrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information, and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
Health Assessment Required: No