Associate Research Professor

Research Associate Professor – STARR PI College/School/Unit: Jackson School of Geosciences Posted: Mar 9, 2026 Apply By: Open until filled Description General Notes This is for an in‑person position at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. The chosen candidate will be the leader of the State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery (STARR) program. Purpose The State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery (STARR) program seeks a new Principal Investigator to lead the program, coordinate subprojects, manage research personnel (postdocs and students), and design and conduct original research on topics relevant to the economic development of energy and environmental resources within the State of Texas. The program is funded by the State of Texas and is part of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the Jackson School of Geosciences. The mission of STARR is to conduct geoscience and engineering research to increase the production and profitability of earth resources—oil, natural gas, hydrogen, geothermal, and minerals—within the State of Texas. It also encourages responsible economic development, supports education, and promotes environmental stewardship. In this position the candidate will Work closely with the Director, who is also the State Geologist of Texas, to design and implement research initiatives relevant to the state. Design and lead research on energy or environmental topics relevant to Texas. This includes organizing core workshops and training sessions in‑house and via collaboration with local professional societies. Supervise a multidisciplinary team of researchers—geoscientists, engineers, and geospatial specialists—engaging in annual performance evaluations, setting targets, and providing continuous feedback throughout the year. Monitor the financial health of the program in collaboration with the directorate. Interact and engage with small Texas operators to define field studies that impact the STARR matrix, document projects, and secure letters of support for inclusion in the STARR biannual report. Collaborate with other Principal Investigators to identify areas of synergy. Actively participate in local and regional technical events and conferences to promote the STARR mission and present technical results in collaboration with researchers. Publish research results in peer‑reviewed publications and present findings at relevant conferences locally and regionally. Proactively work to raise one's research and leadership profile within the state and at the national and international levels in pursuit of promotion to Research Professor. Responsibilities Provide scientific and strategic leadership for the STARR program as PI, setting the research vision, defining priorities, and ensuring delivery of high‑impact, industry‑relevant outcomes. Oversee program execution to ensure projects are appropriately resourced, on schedule, and within budget. Lead and participate in original, publishable research as part of STARR, advancing innovative approaches to subsurface characterization and resource recovery while integrating expertise across disciplines and above and below ground. Proactively publish own research topics as lead author when appropriate. Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary research team, fostering a collaborative and high‑performance research culture. Supervise staff, postdocs and students, promote professional development, and encourage cross‑program collaboration within the Bureau of Economic Geology. Proactively engage with industry, state agencies, and external partners to define relevant research questions, co‑develop projects, secure data, and align STARR research with evolving industry challenges and State priorities. Actively seek and build synergies with other BEG programs and external research organizations. Communicate research outcomes through presentations, reports, and peer‑reviewed publications; represent STARR and BEG to professional societies, sponsors, and stakeholders; and contribute to the visibility and impact of BEG’s research enterprise. Salary $120,000 + depending on qualifications Working Conditions May work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Occasional weekend, overtime, and evening work to meet deadlines. Occasional interstate, intrastate, and international travel. Fieldwork as necessary. Qualifications Required Qualifications PhD in geosciences, petroleum engineering or related technical discipline. Five or more years of work experience after PhD degree. Preferred Qualifications Fifteen or more years of experience in the oil and gas industry and/or academia, including demonstrated leadership of complex exploration, development, or research programs. Strong record of peer‑reviewed publications and success in securing competitive research funding. Proven ability to lead, inspire, and collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams. In‑depth understanding of a geoscience or engineering field applied to subsurface characterization and prediction using core, well‑log, seismic data or other methods. Familiarity with geophysical, petrophysical, reservoir engineering, and well‑engineering methodologies, as well as workflows for complex modeling of upstream petroleum systems. Experience applying subsurface characterization to emerging energy resources—including geothermal, subsurface energy storage, or mineral evaluation—is desirable. Demonstrated expertise or familiarity in advanced data analytics and computational methods, including data‑driven modeling, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence applied to large, complex geoscience or engineering datasets. Experience integrating traditional subsurface workflows with modern data‑science approaches is strongly preferred. Effective communicator with a strong record of presenting technical results to scientific, industry, and government audiences. Demonstrated ability to proactively develop and sustain high‑level collaborations with industry, academic, and government partners. Application Instructions Letter of Interest Curriculum Vitae Research Statement Three references with contact information provided in a single document; the final candidate must provide at least three reference letters. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal‑opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. #J-18808-Ljbffr