Postdoctoral Researcher in Advanced Modeling and Simulation for Food, Packaging, and Supply Chains

Gainesville, FL - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 30+ days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Classification Title:	Postdoctoral Associate
Classification Minimum Requirements:	The appointee shall have received the doctorate in a field appropriate to the assigned duties and responsibilities.
Job Description:	The Institute of Food and Agricultural Scienceswelcomes applicants who can contribute to our environment through their scholarship teaching mentoring and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position please call or the Florida Relay System at (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF . IFAS is seeking a highly motivatedPostdoctoral Researcher to join the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department (ABE) a unit within individual will have expertise in computer science industrial and systems engineering or related fields to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of food systems packaging supply chain resilience and lifecycle successful candidate will lead and conduct independent research in optimization systems modeling agent-based modeling (ABM) and network modeling with direct applications to food packaging systems supply chain logistics and lifecycle/techno-economic assessment (LCA/TEA). Employment with IFAS provides an excellent opportunity to work with other dedicated employees focused on developing knowledge in agricultural human and natural resources and to make that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. Some key responsibilities and characteristics of this position are: Develop and apply mathematical computational and agent-based models to evaluate sustainability and resilience in food packaging and supply chains. Conceptualize and implement digital twin systems for packaging and supply chain decision-making. Integrate optimization AI and machine learning methods into models of logistics and lifecycle sustainability. Conduct life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) for emerging packaging and food system technologies. Prepare decision-support tools and simulation frameworks to inform stakeholders and policymakers. Analyze system-level data on environmental economic and labor impacts of packaging and supply chain innovations. Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and grant proposal development. Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in computational modeling and sustainability assessment. Present research findings at national and international conferences. About Agricultural and Biological Engineering The mission of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department is to develop professionals create and disseminate knowledge and promote the application of engineering science and management principles to meet societal needs with respect to agricultural biological and land and water resource systems. With more than 100 years since its founding ABE is one of the top-ranked departments in the nation (ranked third in graduate and seventh in undergraduate agricultural and biological engineering programs by US News & World Report in 2024). Learn more about ABE. Benefits UF provides variousleaveprograms based on an employees salary plan including vacation sick leave holidays personal leave days and paid family addition to paid time off the University of Florida offers a very competitivebenefitspackage. About the University of Florida The University of Florida is a Land-Grant Sea-Grant and Space-Grant institution encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines with an enrollment of more than 56000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station the Florida Cooperative Extension Service the College of Veterinary Medicine the Florida Sea Grant program and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4500 people which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS one of the nations largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
Expected Salary:	Commensurate with Education and Experience
Required Qualifications:	Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Computer Science Industrial Engineering Systems Engineering Operations Research Applied Mathematics or a related discipline. Strong background in optimization systems models and network modeling. Experience in agent-based modeling and simulation. Demonstrated research experience in supply chains logistics packaging or sustainability assessment. Proficiency in computational tools such as Python R MATLAB or similar. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.
Preferred:	The ideal candidate will possess the following experience and skills: Experience with digital twin technologies. Background in food systems packaging or circular economy research. Experience in LCA and TEA methodologies. Prior publications in high-impact journals. Experience mentoring students and working with industry partners.
	Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date. Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit: One-page cover letter describing your qualifications and interest Curriculum vitae Contact information including email addresses for professional references (minimum of 3 including one current or previous supervisor) Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire.A transcript will not be considered official if a designation of Issued to Student is earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events restaurants year-round outdoor recreational activities and social opportunities. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position please call or the Florida Relay System at (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.
Health Assessment Required:	No

Classification Title:Postdoctoral AssociateClassification Minimum Requirements:The appointee shall have received the doctorate in a field appropriate to the assigned duties and responsibilities.Job Description:The Institute of Food and Agricultural Scienceswelcomes applicants who can contribute to o...