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Post Doctoral Researcher

Employer
Lamar University
Location
Beaumont, TX, TX
View more categoriesView less categories
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Job Summary

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will support applied research conducted through the Center for Midstream Management and Science. The position will contribute to multiple projects involving midstream energy systems, pipelines, leak detection, emissions, instrumentation, laboratory measurements, and data analysis. The research will be conducted in the lab and in the field. The postdoctoral researcher will help design and conduct experiments, operate research equipment, analyze data, prepare technical deliverables, and support the development of new research methods. Assignments may change as CMMS develops new projects and industry partnerships. The position is therefore intended for a researcher who can work across several technical areas and quickly learn new systems. This is a temporary position with an initial appointment of one year. The position may be renewed for one additional year, contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued approval, for a maximum appointment of two years.

Special Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Essential Job Functions

Applied Research and Project Execution:
  • Conduct applied research in support of CMMS-sponsored and faculty-led projects.
  • Design experiments, develop research methods, and evaluate new technologies.
  • Manage assigned activities according to project schedules, objectives, and sponsor requirements.
  • Laboratory and Field Measurements:
  • Operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot laboratory and field measurement equipment.
  • Conduct measurements involving leak detection, gases, emissions, sensors, and other project variables.
  • Maintain experimental records and follow established safety and quality procedures.
  • Data Analysis and Technical Development:
  • Process, analyze, and interpret experimental and operational data.
  • Develop scripts, models, software, or visualization tools needed for research projects.
  • Evaluate data quality, measurement uncertainty, and system performance.
  • Research Collaboration and Project Support:
  • Work with CMMS faculty, staff, students, and industry partners on multidisciplinary projects.
  • Contribute to technical reports, publications, proposals, presentations, and sponsor deliverables.
  • Provide technical guidance to students and assist with laboratory and project activities.
  • Minimum and Desired Qualifications

    Minimum Qualifications:
    • Terminal degree in engineering, physics, chemistry, or a closely related STEM discipline at the level of PhD or DE.
    • Experience conducting experimental or applied research in an academic, laboratory, field, or industrial setting.
    • Ability to plan experiments, collect and analyze data, and document research methods and results.
    • Experience preparing technical reports, presentations, or peer-reviewed publications.
    • Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary research teams.
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
    • Strong background in mathematics up to partial differential equations in three dimensions in solving the Helmholtz Equation in different coordinate systems, including cylindrical symmetries and applications of Bessel functions.
    • Ability to manage multiple research tasks and meet project schedules and sponsor requirements.
    • Willingness to travel for conducting research in the field across the Nation.
    • Ability to present results at workshops, symposia, and conferences.
    Desired Qualifications:
    • Experience with laboratory measurement systems such as mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, gas analyzers, or vacuum equipment.
    • Experience with sensors, instrumentation, data-acquisition systems, or automated experimental equipment.
    • Experience with programming, signal processing, statistical analysis, machine learning, or scientific data visualization.
    • Experience conducting field tests or working with industry-sponsored research projects.
    • Familiarity with laboratory safety, calibration procedures, quality control, and experimental uncertainty.
    Supplemental Information

    Key Competencies:

    • Ability to design, conduct, and troubleshoot laboratory and field experiments.
    • Ability to learn and operate unfamiliar instruments, software, and research systems.
    • Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex experimental data.
    • Ability to document procedures, code, equipment configurations, and research findings clearly.
    • Ability to collaborate with faculty, students, technical staff, industry partners, and project sponsors.
    • Ability to oversee research projects for undergraduate and graduate students.
    • Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental quality and safety.
    • Ability to publish results across the spectrum of trade journals to high-impact journals.
    Physical Requirements: Able to lift 25 pounds and be able to perform a variety of physical tasks including lifting, bending, stooping, squatting, stair climbing, and walking between buildings.

    Job Conditions: Work is typically performed in a lab or office environment. Occasional visits to field testing sites will be required. Flexibility in working hours may be needed during experimental deployments or system upgrades.

    Required Documents: Please note you MUST have these documents attached to your application to be considered complete.
  • Cover Letter with a link to your PhD thesis
  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Transcripts from PhD program
  • Research Statement
  • 3 Letters of Reference, one of which must come from your PhD advisor

  • Who We Are:Home to more than 18,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas.With more than 120-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals.Lamar University strives to educate leaders,demonstrate excellence in student learning and career readiness, and pursue research with relevance.

    Lamar University is committed to fostering an environment of teamwork where all students, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and become a part of our community.

    Benefits:
    • Health, dental & vision insurance
    • Life insurance
    • State of Texas Retirement plans
    • Tuition covered at 100% for employees, spouses and/or eligible dependents
    • Paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays
    To see more information about the available benefits, please visit: Benefits - Lamar University

    Lamar University is An Equal Opportunity Employer

    Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.

    This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.

    Organization

    Texas Roots. Infinite Possibilities.

    Lamar University students enjoy small classes where they can build lasting friendships with professors and peers. The 270-acre campus is in Beaumont, Texas, located about 90 miles east of Houston and 25 miles west of the Louisiana border. A comprehensive public university, Lamar gives students a chance to explore a variety of interests to prepare them to succeed in whatever fields they choose.

    Academics

    A member of the Texas State University System, Lamar University offers 63 undergraduate, 47 master's and nine doctoral degree programs. The university has more than 13,000 students enrolled in five academic colleges - Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development, Engineering, Fine Arts and Communication. Lamar also offers the College of Graduate Studies and academic programs such as the Center for General Studies.

    Students have access to numerous opportunities for scholarships, undergraduate research and study abroad programs. Lamar University students have: 

    • Performed research for NASA and flown experiments on NASA reduced-gravity flights.
    • Presented original research at academic conferences as undergraduates in fields including mathematics, business and sociology.
    • Enjoyed a 73 percent acceptance rate to medical and dental schools in recent years, compared to a 39 percent acceptance rate statewide.
    • Gone on to lead major companies and make a name for themselves in fields from art and music to nursing and engineering.

    Athletics

    Students can participate in or cheer on their peers in more than a dozen NCAA Division I sports. Last year, the Cardinals were Southland Conference champions in men's golf, cross country and women's tennis. The volleyball and men's basketball teams were regular season co-champs and the women's basketball team was Southland Conference East Division champion. The LU baseball program has produced several major leaguers. The women's soccer program is entering its second season. The golf team has topped national rankings in recent years.

    LU is beginning to rebuild a football program. A coach was hired in 2008. The stadium and athletic complex are being renovated, and the Cardinals plan to return to the gridiron in 2010.

    Campus Life

    A building boom at Lamar University in the past decade has given students access to state-of-the art facilities for learning, playing, dining and living.

    Residents of Cardinal Village, the modern residence halls, have private bedrooms, high-speed Internet and amenities including an outdoor pool, basketball courts and community centers. The new dining hall offers a bistro ambience with international and American cuisine.

    Working out in the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center is like a trip to an exclusive gym where students have an automatic membership. Features include a 43-foot climbing wall, an elevated jogging track, new cardiovascular and weighttraining equipment, and courts for sports such as basketball, racquetball and indoor soccer. Competitive types can participate in intramural sports ranging from basketball and flag football to dodgeball, cricket and pool.

    Making friends and building a social network is easy at Lamar with more than 100 clubs and organizations registered on campus. Through campus organizations, students can:

    • Join a fraternity or sorority
    • Get involved in community service
    • Delve into a cause
    • Nurture spiritual beliefs
    • Start networking in future professions
    • Do all of the above.

    LU is a short drive from many outdoor adventures: a day at the beach, canoeing or fishing on area rivers and bayous, hiking in the Big Thicket National Preserve. Shopping and entertainment options also are nearby including theaters, museums and live music venues large and small.

    History

    Lamar University was founded in 1923 as South Park Junior College a few blocks from the current location. The name changed to Lamar College in 1932 to honor Mirabeau B. Lamar, second president of the Republic of Texas and the "Father of Education" in Texas. In 1951, the school became Lamar State College of Technology, a state-supported four-year institution, the first junior college in Texas to make such a transition. The name changed to Lamar University in 1971. The university joined the Texas State University System in 1995.

    Visit/Apply

    Visit campus to learn more about all Lamar University has to offer. Guided campus tours normally are scheduled at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

    To arrange a campus visit, call (409) 880-8316 or e-mail recruitment@lamar.edu

    To apply for admission, financial aid and scholarships, go to http://lamar.edu/admissions

     

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