PostDoctoral Research Associate
Requisition Number:
64248
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
Research Faculty
Schedule:
Full-Time
Date Posted:
04-Sep-2025
Job Summary
We invite applications for a PostDoctoral Research Associate position in the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder). The position is supported by a newly funded project aimed at developing advanced computational methods to extract historical geographic information from digital archived maps, and approaches to implement these spatio-temporal data in novel scientific studies of human-environment interactions. This project will extract spatial road network data from historical USGS data originally published between 1884 and 2006 and integrate the extracted spatio-temporal data in research on the impact of transportation infrastructure on urban and economic development and environmental processes. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to collaborate in developing spatially explicit machine learning approaches and/or applying image processing or computer vision techniques to explore innovative ways to understand geographical data and extract useful information from the data. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to lead efforts in data evaluation and demonstrate how the extracted information in combination with other historical data from historical maps or property-level data can be utilized in scientific studies to advance knowledge of human interactions with their environment over extended time periods.
The position can start as early as June 2025 or as soon as possible. The initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second-year contingent on satisfactory performance and fund availability.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
The Department of Geography brings a holistic perspective to the physical and human processes that shape the world around us, and we strive to understand how people interact with, are shaped by, and in turn help shape, our world. Our teaching and research span an exceptional array of disciplines, and we excel at providing field-oriented, hands-on experience. We train our students – in a friendly, well-supported environment – to be top scientists as well as citizens of the broader world to which we're all connected.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Collaborate on machine learning based information extraction from geographic data, develop evaluation processes and perform uncertainty analysis to apply the extracted spatio-temporal data in case studies that model changes in human-environment interactions over long time periods.
- Develop manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings;
- Present and communicate the findings to the communities of researchers and stakeholders;
- Assist and develop new grant proposals on related topics for submission to funding agencies;
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
What We Can Offer
The annual salary for this full-time position is $65,000-$70,000. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates within department guidelines.
Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
Qualified applicants should have a PhD degree (or ABD) in Geography/GIScience, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Science or related discipline.
What You Will Need
Expertise in geographic information science, uncertainty assessment, data integration, spatial data extraction, statistical analysis/machine learning.
What We Would Like You to Have
Preferences will be given to applicants with strong quantitative backgrounds and programming experience (e.g., Python, R) in statistics, machine learning and spatiotemporal analysis who have experience in working with large datasets.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter
- PDF Sample of Work
Please put the required documents into one single PDF file.
During the application process you will need to enter contact information for two references who will be contacted to provide letters of recommendation as the search progresses.
Please apply by 10/3/2025 for consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Stefan Leyk
Posting Contact Email: stefan.leyk@colorado.edu