Postdoctoral Scholar, Physics

The Opportunity (Job description):

The Department of Physics (physics.ucf.edu) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) seeks a postdoctoral scholar to advance our understanding of magma ocean evolution via a novel approach that combines atmospheric modeling and machine learning techniques.

The qualified candidate will work with Prof. Ramses Ramirez and colleagues on a project to simulate and make observational predictions of magma ocean atmospheres orbiting F - M stars. The postdoc will run climate models and generate training datasets, machine learning models, produce and analyze mock observations and run retrievals. The results of this work would elucidate the early (i.e., magma ocean) conditions required to form potentially habitable planets and provide simulated observations of the formation and evolution of such planets. The postdoctoral scholar also has the opportunity to develop their own follow-up research projects. The position includes a budget for professional development, including travel and publications costs, and robust career mentoring by Prof. Ramirez and the Planetary Sciences Group. The postdoc will also have the option to teach (not required), mentor students, and submit portable proposals as PI, with permission. Highly-motivated individuals with relevant astronomy, planetary science, geoscience, computer science, or engineering backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

We anticipate a start date of Spring or Summer 2025.

UCF is a leading, metropolitan, research-intensive university with over 68,000 students. The Department of Physics has 54 faculty. The Planetary Sciences Group contains about a dozen faculty, ten career soft- money researchers, five postdocs, and 25 graduate students between the Florida Space Institute and the Department, with additional space researchers in the colleagues of engineering, medicine, business, hospitality and optics. The Department offers a B.S. specialized in astronomy and M.S. and Ph.D. degree tracks with standard planetary science curricula. We offer robust academic and research mentoring programs and have strong ties to the Florida Space Institute and the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

More information about Prof. Ramirez and his research group can be found here: https://habitableplanets.wordpress.com/

The following link gives details on our Planetary Sciences Group (plus Ph.D. program): https://planets.ucf.edu/

The postdoctoral scholar will run observational and retrieval simulations using ExoSim, Eureka! and the Bayesian Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (BART) tool. The postdoctoral scholar will update BART to include incident light scattering by gases and condensates, including polarization. A wavelength- dependent surface will be added. The scholar will then train machine learning radiative transfer models for magma ocean planets, while fixing known parameters for known planets.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in physics, planetary sciences, computer science or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution at the time of application. The candidate must have publications in planetary science, machine learning or related fields. Programming experience is a must.

The ideal candidate would have some experience with machine learning, including (but not limited to) the development of neutral networks and/or other AI tools.

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, candidates should upload:

• CV/Resume
• 3 professional references with contact information

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: When applying, please have all your documents ready to upload at the same time. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

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As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida. The state's benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment. If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First. OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but