Postdoctoral Associate (Postdoctoral Associate - UF Sports Analytics Lab)University Of Florida • Gainesville, Florida, United States
Postdoctoral Associate (Postdoctoral Associate - UF Sports Analytics Lab)
University Of Florida
- Gainesville, Florida, United States
- Gainesville, Florida, United States
About
Job no:
538894
Work type:
Post Doc Associate
Location:
Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories:
Computer Science, Social/Behavioral Science, Physical/Mathematical Sciences
Department:
26040100 - HH-SPM ADMIN-INSTRUCTION
Classification Title: Postdoctoral Associate
PhD in statistics, data science, business analytics, sports analytics, operations research, computer science, or a closely related quantitative field, earned by July 1, 2026.
Job Description: The UF Sports Analytics Lab in the Department of Sport Management, College of Health & Human Performance, at the University of Florida invites applications for a full‑time Postdoctoral Associate in Sports Analytics.
This 12‑month position focuses primarily on applied on‑field performance analytics in collaboration with Florida Gators Athletics, with additional projects in business and operations analytics as needs arise. The Postdoctoral Associate will work closely with the Lab Director to support multiple varsity teams and the Athletic Director’s staff and to help manage a large cohort of student analysts (approximately 40 undergraduate and master’s students).
The appointment is renewable annually for up to a total of three years, contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued need, and availability of funding.
Responsibilities
Design and implement applied sports analytics projects for UF varsity teams and the Athletic Director’s office, with an emphasis on on‑field performance (e.g., player and team evaluation, game strategy, scouting, workload and injury risk, practice planning).
Contribute to sport business and operations analytics projects as needed (e.g., ticketing, fan engagement, and scheduling).
Build and maintain data pipelines and models using R, Python, SQL, and cloud computing resources, following best practices for reproducible research and version control (GitHub).
Supervise and mentor undergraduate and masters student analysts working on projects across multiple teams and units.
Communicate findings clearly to coaches, staff, and other stakeholders, and contribute to publications, presentations, and grant proposals emerging from lab projects.
Lead and co‑author scholarly publications and conference presentations arising from lab projects, in collaboration with the Lab Director and student analysts.
Support the educational mission of the lab through mentoring and occasional guest lectures or workshops in sports analytics (no formal classroom teaching load) or courses related to sport performance analytics if needed.
Appointment Terms and Salary This is a full‑time, 12‑month, non‑tenure‑track faculty appointment as a Postdoctoral Associate, based at the University of Florida’s main campus in Gainesville, Florida.
The appointment is renewable annually for up to three years, contingent on performance, need, and funding.
The anticipated salary range is $60,000–$70,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience and meeting or exceeding UF’s minimum for postdoctoral associates.
The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Required Qualifications
PhD in statistics, data science, business analytics, sports analytics, operations research, computer science, or a closely related quantitative field, earned by July 1, 2026.
Proficiency in R and Python for data analysis and modeling.
Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases.
Experience with cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS, GCP, or Azure).
Demonstrated use of GitHub or similar tools for version control and collaborative code development.
Evidence of high‑quality research (e.g., publications, preprints, reports, or comparable outputs).
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience providing analytics or performance analysis support to college or professional teams, sport organizations, or athletic departments.
Experience supervising or mentoring student analysts or research assistants.
Familiarity with sport‑relevant methods such as analysis of tracking data, player and team evaluation metrics, win probability and decision models, scheduling/optimization, or injury and workload models.
Experience with modern data engineering and analytics tools (e.g., APIs and ETL/ELT workflows, dashboarding tools such as Shiny/Dash/Power BI, CI/CD or automated pipelines).
Experience working with sensitive or restricted data and knowledge of data governance and ethics in sport.
Application Instructions For full consideration, applications should be submitted by July 31st, 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately after this date. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, and the position will remain open until filled. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority. For additional information, you may address your specific questions to Dr. Scott Nestler (nestler.scott@ufl.edu).
Applicants must apply online through the University of Florida’s employment website at https://jobs.ufl.edu/ and upload the following:
Combined cover letter and research statement (up to 3 pages) describing interest in the position; relevant experience (especially in sports analytics and working with athletic teams); key past projects; and how the applicant envisions contributing to applied sports analytics and co‑authoring publications with the UF Sports Analytics Lab team.
One or two sample outputs (e.g., publications, preprints, technical reports, or code repositories such as GitHub links) that demonstrate applied analytics work.
Contact information for three professional references (name, title, affiliation, email, and phone). Letters of recommendation may be requested later in the search process.
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre‑employment screening which includes a review of criminal records, reference checks, and verification of education.
Selected candidates will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. International degrees will require evaluation by an approved credentialing service (e.g., NACES).
Health assessment required: No.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Languages
- English
Notice for Users
This job comes from a TieTalent partner platform. Click "Apply Now" to submit your application directly on their site.