Texas A&M University

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate: AI & Geodynamics

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Geology

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Here’s a Glimpse of the Job

The Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&M University invites applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI-driven geodynamics. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of geoscience and advanced machine learning. The associate will collaborate primarily with Professor Qian Yuan, focusing on integrating state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, both data-driven and physics-informed, with mantle convection modeling to investigate planetary evolution and habitability.

This is a one-year position with the possibility of extension up to three years. Ideal candidates will have a background in geodynamics, Earth and planetary sciences, applied or computational mathematics, physics, or engineering. Prior experience with neural operators or Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) in computational fluid dynamics is an advantage.

The postdoctoral research associate will join a growing, multidisciplinary research team and will have opportunities to mentor both graduate and undergraduate students. They will also benefit from Texas A&M’s expanding AI ecosystem, including the Research in Artificial Intelligence for Science and Engineering (RAISE) Initiative. Additionally, Texas A&M has recently acquired the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD with DGX H200 systems, making it one of the most powerful AI supercomputers at any North American university.

Opportunities to Contribute

• Develops neural operator and physics-based machine learning models for mantle convection system.
• Analyzes, interprets, and publishes modeled results.
• Mentors graduate and undergraduate students in the lab.
• Attends and presents results at scientific conferences.

Qualifications

• Candidates are required to have a Ph.D. (or have completed all the requirements by the time of appointment) in a relevant field, such as Earth and planetary sciences, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong background in numerical skills and machine learning.
• Expertise in computation geodynamics modeling.
• Familiarity with theoretical and practical aspects of scientific machine learning.
• Ability to sit for extended periods (e.g., 6-8 hours/day).
• Visual acuity to read computer screens and documents.

A well-qualified candidate for this position will also possess:

• Advanced scientific computing and math skills
• Excellent writing skills through high-quality reports and publications
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to positively and professionally interact with clients and staff, groups of various sizes.
• Ability to orally comprehend and express information and use inductive and deductive reasoning.

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate's education and experience.

Please note: This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.

What you need to do

Apply! Submitting a cover letter, resume’/CV to assist us with the review process. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume.

Why Texas A&M University?

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

The Department of Geology & Geophysics is dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth, its fluids, and their history and future, preparing the next generation of earth scientists, and using our expertise to serve the broader scientific, government, and industry communities. Our most fundamental mission is to educate students at all levels. To that end we offer a B.A. and B.S. degree program in geology, a B.S. degree program in geophysics, M.S. and Ph.D. programs in geology, and M.S. and Ph.D. programs in geophysics. As one of the top geology and geophysics departments in the United States, we encourage you to browse our website and learn more about our department at: geoweb.tamu.edu

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.