Post Doctoral Fellow
- Employer
- University of South Carolina
- Location
- Columbia
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
RTF00257PO26
USC Market Title:Post Doctoral Fellow
Link to USC Market Title:https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/156387
Business Title (Internal Title):Post Doctoral Fellow
Campus:Columbia
Work County:Richland
College/Division:College of Arts and Sciences
Department:CAS School of Earth, Ocean and, Environment
Anticipated Hiring Range:Salary commensurate with qualifications.
Part/Full Time:Full Time
Hours per Week:37.5
Work Schedule:- Monday through Friday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. with one hour lunch.
- Must be willing me to meet the needs of the position.
Staff Research Grant (SRGP)
Basis :12 months
Job Search Category:Post-doctoral
About University of South Carolina:From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
South Carolina Retirement:No
State Insurance Programs:Yes
Annual Leave:No
Sick Leave:No
Advertised Job Summary:Join the University of South Carolina’s School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment (SEOE) and contribute to exciting research exploring the geochemical processes that shape our planet! We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to conduct advanced geochemical analyses of marine particulate filters, sediments, and geological samples, focusing on rare earth elements (REEs) and isotopic systems, including Nd, Hf, Sr, Pb, Mo, and Fe.
Working alongside the Principal Investigator and research team, the Postdoctoral Fellow will analyze and interpret scientific data, prepare research reports, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. This position offers an exciting opportunity to advance geochemical research while expanding specialized scientific expertise in a collaborative academic environment.
- Requires a Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of research specialty by the start date of employment.
- Doctorate in Geology or related, with at least 5+ years demonstrated experience in the area of radiogenic and stable metal isotope analyses (through publications or reports in conference proceedings); experience with high pressure digestions; demonstrated experience in working in a clean lab for low blank trace metal work; experience with the analyses of Nd, Sr, Pb, Hf, Mo isotopes.
- Publication record in peer reviewed literature on a relevant subject.
- Experience with processing of geological samples for trace metal clean chemistry; chemical separations and mass spectrometry analyses of Nd, Sr, Pb, Hf, Mo. Demonstrated ability to write reports and manuscripts that contain geochemical data.
Geochemical Research, Laboratory Analysis, and Method Development. Conduct advanced geochemical research in support of ongoing scientific investigations and externally funded research projects within the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment (SEOE). Independently develop, implement, and refine laboratory methodologies for geochemical sample preparation and analysis, including acid digestion, chromatographic separation, chemical element isolation and purification, and preparation of specialized chemical reagents and acids. Perform complex analytical procedures, evaluate experimental results, troubleshoot laboratory methodologies, and ensure the accuracy, reproducibility, and scientific integrity of geochemical measurements. Analyze and interpret geochemical data to support research objectives and contribute to the development of scientific findings. Maintain specialized laboratory instrumentation, research materials, and laboratory facilities in accordance with established safety protocols, quality assurance standards, and institutional requirements. Collaborate with the Principal Investigator and research team to advance project objectives, improve analytical methodologies, and support the successful completion of research deliverables.
Essential Function:Yes
Percentage of Time:40
Job Duty:Mass Spectrometry Research and Advanced Analytical Techniques.Conduct advanced mass spectrometry analyses in support of geochemical research projects within the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment (SEOE). Independently develop, implement, and optimize analytical methodologies for the precise measurement of elemental concentrations and isotopic compositions in geological and environmental samples. Operate, calibrate, and maintain specialized mass spectrometry instrumentation, troubleshoot complex analytical and technical issues, and implement quality assurance and quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy, precision, and reproducibility of analytical results. Evaluate instrument performance, refine analytical protocols, and apply advanced scientific judgment to resolve methodological challenges and improve research outcomes. Process, analyze, and interpret complex mass spectrometry datasets to investigate geochemical processes and support research objectives. Collaborate with the Principal Investigator and other researchers to integrate analytical findings into broader scientific investigations, contribute to the development of research methodologies, and support the preparation of scientific publications, presentations, and externally funded research deliverables.
Essential Function:Yes
Percentage of Time:40
Job Duty:Research Data Management, Scientific Reporting, and Scholarly Communication.Manage, organize, validate, and curate complex geochemical and mass spectrometry datasets to ensure data accuracy, integrity, reproducibility, and accessibility for ongoing research projects. Analyze and synthesize research findings, prepare technical reports, and develop scientific figures, tables, and data visualizations to effectively communicate analytical results. Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, and research reports by interpreting geochemical data, documenting analytical methodologies, and collaborating with the Principal Investigator and research team. Maintain comprehensive research records and data documentation in accordance with established scientific standards, institutional requirements, and applicable grant objectives.
Essential Function:Yes
Percentage of Time:15
Job Duty:Other Research-Related Duties as Assigned.Perform additional research-related duties and special assignments as directed by the Principal Investigator in support of ongoing geochemical research projects and departmental objectives. Additional assignments will be consistent with the scope, specialized expertise, and professional development expectations of the Postdoctoral Fellow position.
Essential Function:Yes
Percentage of Time:5
Hazardous weather category:Non-Essential
Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.:No
Number of Vacancies:1
Desired Start Date:12/01/2026
Position End Date :05/31/2027
Job Open Date:11/09/2026
Job Close Date:12/22/2026
Open Until Filled:No
Special Instructions to Applicant:Positions are advertised for a minimum of thirty (30) business days on our job website. After thirty (30) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by December 22, 2026.
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/215582
EEO Statement:The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.
Organization
Working at University of South Carolina
With more than 200 years of history and tradition, the University of South Carolina is redefining itself for decades to come. There's never been a better time to be at South Carolina, the state's flagship university and one of only 62 public universities to receive the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation for research.
The University is located in the heart of South Carolina in the capital city of Columbia, which is the nexus of government, a thriving arts and culture center, a venue for big-time Southeastern Conference intercollegiate athletics, and a community that is reinventing itself with redevelopment projects citywide. Much of the development is tied to land along the scenic, slow-moving Congaree River. Working with government, business, and community leaders, Carolina has developed a unified plan that will allow the University to expand from its origins on the historic Horseshoe to its future-Innovista, a research and innovation district that will stretch to the banks of the Congaree.
Innovista represents a new vision for research by creating a vibrant, urban community where students and researchers, including those from private firms, will live, work, learn, and play. Innovista will represent the University's four core research areas-hydrogen fuel cells, nanoscience and technology, biomedical and public health, and the environment-but will include other initiatives and business partners that serve the knowledge economy. Innovista's first private tenant, for example, is a leader in software applications for the insurance industry and will create several hundred high-paying jobs.
By attracting similar companies and jobs-and by capitalizing on an attractive location for restaurants and residential and retail space-Innovista will help drive the economy and increase per-capita income in the city and state. Recreational space will include a world-class waterfront park along the Congaree River and a new stadium for the Gamecocks' nationally ranked baseball program. Greenway paths for biking, walking, and running already line much of the river area. Innovista's 8 million square feet will blend seamlessly with the Vista, the city's nearby entertainment district of restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries.
Chartered in 1801, Carolina began classes in 1805 with nine students and a single building, Rutledge College. As the campus grew and buildings were added during the next 50 years, a horseshoe layout was adopted. Today, the Horseshoe is on the National Register of Historic Places, with 10 of its 11 buildings dating to the 19th century. Those renovated buildings house, among other areas, the South Carolina Honors College and Undergraduate Admissions, representing much of the University's current and future lifeblood.
In fact, incoming freshman classes have never been larger or more competitive. The freshmen from fall 2006 set records for their size (more than 3,700) and SAT scores (1171 average). Freshmen enrolling in the Honors College had average SAT scores of 1398. Members of the University's prestigious scholarship programs, Carolina Scholars for in-state students and McNair Scholars for out-of-state students, had average scores of 1449 and 1477, respectively. Total enrollment at Carolina for undergraduates and graduates is more than 27,300, with some 350 degree programs to choose from. Since 1994, Carolina students have earned more than $9.9 million in prestigious national scholarships such as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes, and NSF scholarships and the Fulbright Fellowships.
South Carolina's student body is diverse. In fact, Carolina was recently recognized as the state flagship university with the highest percentage of African-American student enrollment in the nation. Research by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education shows African-American students made up 14.7 percent of enrollment in 2004, the latest year available. The JBHE also ranks Carolina eighth in the nation in percentage of African-American faculty at a state flagship university with 4.3 percent.
The University's faculty garnered a record $173.3 million in federal, state, and private funding for research, outreach, and training programs in 2005-06, and several key hiring plans will introduce more talent and expertise to the faculty ranks. An aggressive campus building master plan and the faculty recruiting initiatives will change the collective face of the University and the faces of many of its key teachers and researchers.
South Carolina is recruiting world-class faculty to be endowed chairs-and change agents-for a series of "research centers of economic excellence" in areas such as nanoelectronics, polymer nanocomposites, brain imaging, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug discovery, vision research, hydrogen fuel cells, and travel and tourism technology. These centers, some in collaboration with other state research universities and health and hospital systems, are funded with $30 million annually in state lottery money, as well as private matching money. Carolina is in the midst of a faculty recruitment plan to hire 600 new members. The Faculty Excellence Initiative is recruiting 150 faculty, many in interdisciplinary clusters of emphasis, while the Centenary Plan will recruit 100 elite research faculty to lead the University's core initiatives. Additionally, 350 faculty will be hired across disciplines to replace retirees over the next few years.
The University has forged a number of international collaborations in research, and the University's global connections are also strong in academics, particularly in international business. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the Moore School of Business best in the nation for its undergraduate and graduate programs in international business; the undergraduate program is No. 1 for the 10th consecutive time, while the graduate program is No. 1 among public universities for the 18th consecutive year and No. 2 overall, continuing a streak of 18 years with a top-two overall ranking.
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