Postdoctoral Fellow
The University of Texas at San Antonio invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position in the University College for the position of PFAS Consultant.
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence — advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has also been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. Learn more online, on UT San Antonio Today or on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.
University College
University College at The University of Texas at San Antonio serves as the university's hub for interdisciplinary innovation, applied leadership, and student success. The College provides an academic home for programs that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries — including Multidisciplinary Studies degrees, Military Science and ROTC, leadership and mentoring, and core writing and academic foundations courses — equipping students to lead, communicate, and think critically in a complex world. Through its Student Success Center and a broad portfolio of community and institutional partnerships, University College cultivates the habits, competencies, and civic engagement essential to developing future leaders. Faculty and staff are deeply committed to student transformation through teaching, mentoring, and research that bridges disciplines and addresses real-world challenges
Salary Range: Commensurate with education, experience, and qualifications.
Job Type: Full Time
Position Summary
The successful candidate will support research and applied data analytics activities related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water systems and Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) transition programs across large-scale military and public-sector infrastructure networks.
The Postdoctoral Fellow will lead the development and application of advanced analytics, data management tools, and decision-support systems for PFAS drinking water monitoring and compliance programs.
Responsibilities include:
- Analyzing large environmental datasets from multiple installations and public water systems, developing automated workflows to evaluate regulatory compliance, calculating compliance metrics (e.g., Running Annual Averages and Hazard Indices), identifying exceedances of PFAS regulatory thresholds, and preparing technical reports.
- Design and maintain interactive dashboards, geospatial tools, and web-based visualization platforms to support environmental monitoring, compliance tracking, and program management.
- Support PFAS mitigation initiatives through the analysis and visualization of AFFF replacement, disposal, and transition activities across facilities and operational assets.
- The position includes conducting independent and collaborative research on PFAS occurrence, monitoring, remediation, and environmental data science; publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals; presenting at scientific conferences; and collaborating with faculty, students, government agencies, and external stakeholders to advance PFAS-related research and decision-support capabilities.
This is a grant-funded position with expected funding for 11 months. This position may be extended or shortened based on availability of funds and/or departmental need.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geosciences, Hydrogeology and Contaminants, Geoinformatics, Public Health, Computer Science, or closely related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience working with large environmental datasets (>100,000 records) using databases, spreadsheets, and statistical software.
- Proficiency in data management, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), and environmental compliance reporting.
- Experience with environmental monitoring datasets, drinking water quality data, PFAS occurrence and fate, contaminant transport, or related environmental regulatory programs.
- Advanced skills in data analytics and visualization platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS Dashboards, R Shiny, Python Dash, or equivalent tools.
- Experience developing interactive dashboards, geospatial visualizations, and decision-support systems.
- Strong programming and data analysis skills in Python, R, SQL, or equivalent analytical platforms.
- Ability to synthesize large datasets into technical reports and executive-level briefings.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- This position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with EPA drinking water regulations, including PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), EPA Methods 533 and 537.1, and Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) compliance requirements.
- Experience working with military, federal, or state environmental programs.
- Knowledge of PFAS treatment, mitigation, monitoring strategies, and environmental risk assessment.
- Experience with cloud-based or enterprise-level data publication platforms.
Application Process
To apply, applicants must upload the following in a single PDF document:
- A cover letter or letter outlining research interest and experience related to the position.
- A detailed current curriculum vitae.
- Complete contact information for at least three professional references.
- A research statement detailing the candidate's research experience and future goals (maximum 5 pages including figures, tables, and references)
Posting Close Date: Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM CDT on the listed close date. At the discretion of the hiring department, this posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
This position will work primarily on campus. Travel and parking expenses are the employee's responsibility.
This position is contingent upon a successful background check. Verification of a valid driver's license and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) may be completed as applicable. Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.
Equal Employment Opportunity
As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and veteran status. The University is committed to the Affirmative Action Program in compliance with all government requirements to ensure nondiscrimination.
