Postdoctoral Associate Florida Digital Twin (FLDT)

Job Title Postdoctoral Associate – Two Open Positions About the JaxLab and the Florida Digital Twin (FLDT) JaxLab is an applied research and teaching program at the University of Florida School of Architecture in Jacksonville that delivers the Master of Architecture degree. It serves as a place‑based design and innovation hub embedding faculty, students, and researchers within the dynamic urban fabric of Jacksonville. JaxLab’s mission centers on community‑engaged scholarship, transdisciplinary collaboration, and real‑world impact, with an emphasis on resilient, equitable, and design‑driven futures. The Florida Digital Twin (FLDT) is a flagship research initiative funded by the UF Office of Research that leverages high‑performance computing, AI, and geospatial modeling to build AI‑powered replicas of the built and natural environment. FLDT enables real‑time monitoring, predictive modeling, and scenario testing for Florida’s most pressing planning, environmental, and infrastructure challenges. JaxLab plays a pivotal role in translating this statewide initiative into community‑centered applications focusing on the Jacksonville region and beyond. Position 1: Postdoctoral Associate – Software Engineering & Technical Development This position focuses on the technical development of FLDT. The postdoc will help develop, build, and maintain a suite of geospatial tools and data infrastructure that support large‑scale 3D modeling, spatial data integration, and public‑facing decision‑support applications. The position will also involve teaching AI, coding, or other related course. Responsibilities Design, implement, and maintain ETL pipelines, APIs, and geospatial data services using UF’s HiPerGator supercomputing environment. Support integration of diverse datasets across partner systems (e.g., JTA, FDEP, UF GeoPlan). Co‑develop resource description framework (RDF) and knowledge graph databases that support semantic query. Contribute to publications and white papers documenting system design, workflows, and findings. Develop technical documentation to support scalability and reproducibility. Assist with the administrative development of the JaxLab program when needed. Teach one course per year in JaxLab. Position 2: Postdoctoral Associate – Community Engagement & Teaching This position focuses on community and urban design, hazard resilience, and stakeholder engagement. The post‑doc will assist in teaching related courses and will work closely with community partners, faculty, and students to ensure that the Florida Digital Twin reflects local priorities, values, and lived experiences—especially within Jacksonville and surrounding areas. Responsibilities Lead community engagement activities including public forums, stakeholder interviews, and participatory mapping. Translate technical outcomes from FLDT into accessible materials and prepare high‑quality content (documents, images, case studies) for FLDT’s landing webpage. Teach one course per year (studio or seminar) with themes such as urban design, hazard resilience, civic technology, or digital twins. Collaborate with researchers to incorporate community feedback into model development and decision workflows. Contribute to proposal writing and documentation that reflect community outcomes and impact. Required Qualifications Position 1: Postdoctoral Associate – Software Engineering & Technical Development Terminal degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, or a closely related field. Master’s degree in Computer Science, Geoinformatics, or Data Science is preferred. Position 2: Postdoctoral Associate – Community Engagement & Teaching Terminal degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or a related field. Preferred Qualifications Position 1: Postdoctoral Associate – Software Engineering & Technical Development Proficiency in Python, geospatial libraries, API design (e.g., FastAPI), and cloud/HPC environments. Experience with containerization tools and orchestration platforms (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes), spatial databases (e.g., PostGIS), or 3D modeling workflows. Familiarity with GIS platforms (ArcGIS, QGIS) and web‑based data visualization. Knowledge of Apache Jena, Neo4j, and cloud platforms (e.g., GCP, AWS). Position 2: Postdoctoral Associate – Community Engagement & Teaching Demonstrated experience in community engagement, participatory methods, or public‑interest design. Teaching or curriculum development experience in a university setting. Excellent facilitation, writing, and communication skills. Interest in digital tools for resilience, equity, or urban systems. Location & Logistics These positions are based in Jacksonville, Florida, with frequent interaction with UF’s main campus in Gainesville. Travel support, computing resources (including access to HiPerGator), and collaborative workspace will be provided. Compensation commensurate with education and experience. Equal Opportunity Statement The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr VS-Postdoc