Post Doctoral

Note: The primary accountabilities below are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed below. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents’ performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents’ immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver’s license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position’s essential functions.

Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work with professor Kedron Silsbee to carry out a research project focused on cosmic rays in the local interstellar medium. The successful candidate will implement a model of cosmic ray transport including spatial and momentum-space diffusion, advection, and energy losses due to interaction with the ISM. In particular, we aim to incorporate the true density structure of the interstellar medium as revealed by dust extinction maps, and a realistic stochastic source model that includes the statistical clustering of supernova explosions. The candidate will compare the results of this model to the energy spectra of different cosmic ray species measured with the Voyager probes, and to measurements of the cosmic ray ionization rate in nearby molecular clouds that can now be localized in three-dimensional space with the help of dust extinction maps.

In addition to the research program, the selected candidate will be encouraged to work with and help mentor both undergraduate and graduate students.

The successful candidate must comply with all State and University policies.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

Education: PhD in astrophysics, physics or a related field

and

Experience: Prior experience writing code for numerical simulations. Experience with cosmic ray transport models or astrochemistry will be viewed positively, but is not required.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must frequently stand and walk. The employee must regularly sit; use hands to feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must lift and move up to 50 pounds.

The noise level for this work environment is usually moderate.

In keeping with its access, excellence and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee’s or prospective employee’s right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries—including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident—about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu, or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.