Research Associate Professor - STARR PI

Research Associate Professor – STARR PI

College/School/Unit: Jackson School of Geosciences

Posted: Mar 9, 2026

Apply By: Open until filled

General Notes

This is for an in‑person position at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. The chosen candidate will be the leader of the State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery (STARR) program.

Purpose

The State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery (STARR) program seeks a new Principal Investigator to lead the program, coordinate subprojects, manage research personnel (postdocs and students), and design and conduct original research on topics relevant to the economic development of energy and environmental resources within the State of Texas.

The program is funded by the State of Texas and is part of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the Jackson School of Geosciences. The mission of STARR is to conduct geoscience and engineering research to increase the production and profitability of earth resources—oil, natural gas, hydrogen, geothermal, and minerals—within the State of Texas. It also encourages responsible economic development, supports education, and promotes environmental stewardship.

• Work closely with the Director, who is also the State Geologist of Texas, to design and implement research initiatives relevant to the state.
• Design and lead research on energy or environmental topics relevant to Texas. This includes organizing core workshops and training sessions in‑house and via collaboration with local professional societies.
• Supervise a multidisciplinary team of researchers—geoscientists, engineers, and geospatial specialists—engaging in annual performance evaluations, setting targets, and providing continuous feedback throughout the year.
• Monitor the financial health of the program in collaboration with the directorate.
• Interact and engage with small Texas operators to define field studies that impact the STARR matrix, document projects, and secure letters of support for inclusion in the STARR biannual report.
• Collaborate with other Principal Investigators to identify areas of synergy.
• Actively participate in local and regional technical events and conferences to promote the STARR mission and present technical results in collaboration with researchers.
• Publish research results in peer‑reviewed publications and present findings at relevant conferences locally and regionally. Proactively work to raise one's research and leadership profile within the state and at the national and international levels in pursuit of promotion to Research Professor.

• Provide scientific and strategic leadership for the STARR program as PI, setting the research vision, defining priorities, and ensuring delivery of high‑impact, industry‑relevant outcomes. Oversee program execution to ensure projects are appropriately resourced, on schedule, and within budget.
• Lead and participate in original, publishable research as part of STARR, advancing innovative approaches to subsurface characterization and resource recovery while integrating expertise across disciplines and above and below ground. Proactively publish own research topics as lead author when appropriate.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary research team, fostering a collaborative and high‑performance research culture. Supervise staff, postdocs and students, promote professional development, and encourage cross‑program collaboration within the Bureau of Economic Geology.
• Proactively engage with industry, state agencies, and external partners to define relevant research questions, co‑develop projects, secure data, and align STARR research with evolving industry challenges and State priorities. Actively seek and build synergies with other BEG programs and external research organizations.
• Communicate research outcomes through presentations, reports, and peer‑reviewed publications; represent STARR and BEG to professional societies, sponsors, and stakeholders; and contribute to the visibility and impact of BEG’s research enterprise.

$120,000 + depending on qualifications

• May work around standard office conditions.
• Repetitive use of a…