Post-Doctoral Associate

The School of Statistics at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a 100%-time, 12-month Post-Doctoral Associate, to begin between January 15, 2026 and August 31, 2026.

The Post-Doctoral Associate will work with Dr. Eric Chi and his collaborators within and outside the University of Minnesota. The Post-doctoral Associate will develop algorithms and theory for machine learning methods, as well as implement and apply ML methods to problems in domains such as computational biology and neuroscience.

This is a one-year appointment with the potential to be extended contingent upon funding, satisfactory performance, and the needs of the school.

Job duties include:

* Maintain open-source software on GitHub
* Publish peer-reviewed journal and conference papers.
* Present work at conferences
* Assist with writing and developing grant proposals to obtain research funding from agencies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

* Ph.D. in statistics, applied mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related data science field by the date of appointment is required.
* Demonstrated commitment to high-quality research in statistics or data science.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Organization and time management skills
* Strong experience in methodological development, independent research, and the ability to work professionally with minimal supervision and direction
* Strong computational background
* Methodological expertise in one or more of: numerical optimization, optimal transport, MCMC, machine learning

The School of Statistics is a leading center of statistical practice, education, and research. There are currently 14 full-time and 1 half-time faculty members with research interests ranging from foundational statistics and data science theory and methods development to interdisciplinary applications in clinical trials, climate science, neuroimaging, psychometrics, high-energy physics, and astrostatistics, among others.

The school offers B.A., B.S., M.S., and Ph. D. degree programs, and has approximately 192 undergraduate majors, 149 minors, and approximately 109 graduate students including 47 Ph.D. students. Many of the school's faculty members are affiliated with the M.S. in Data Science degree program. The school also directs the Institute for Research on Statistics and its Applications, which facilitates interdisciplinary research involving statistics and data science.

The department is strongly committed to diversity and to providing a productive and supportive environment for all faculty, staff, and students.

For more information, please visit the school's website, https://cla.umn.edu/statistics.

About the College of Liberal Arts:

Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Pay Range: $61,008.00-$65,000.00 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. Click on "Apply," and follow the instructions. You will have an opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and CV. Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Activities" page and uploading documents there.

The following materials must be attached to your online application:

1) a cover letter and 2) curriculum vitae. You may optionally provide: 3) A github repo of yours that you are most proud of, and 4) a sample of your scholarly written work representing your disciplinary focus. In addition to the material submitted electronically, applicants are asked to arrange for TWO letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the School of Statistics. The letters of recommendation should be e-mailed to statsoffice@umn.edu.

Additional materials may be requested from candidates at a future date.

Application review will begin immediately, but we will continue to review applications until the position is filled.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).