Assistant Professional Researcher - University OF California Center Forgeotechnical Modeling

Position overview

Salary range: "Off-scale salaries" and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience. A reasonable estimated salary range for this position is $128,600 - $141,900.

Open date: August 18, 2026

Most recent review date: Thursday, Sep 3, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Thursday, Apr 29, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The Assistant Professional Researcher develops and oversees their own independent, creative, and high quality research program equivalent to that required for the Professor series. The Professional Researcher takes major responsibility and leadership for their programs. Generally, the appointee is expected to secure funding as a Principal Investigator, but may be funded as a co-PI within a large center or collaborative program grant on which many independent investigators are working, as long as it is clear that the activities led by the professional researcher within the larger project constitute his/her own independent research program.

Appointees do not have teaching responsibilities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

I. RESEARCH (85%)

Research Activity (55%)

• Make significant, original, and creative contributions as a Co-PI through executing operations awards for the CGM. In this capacity the individual will have a leadership role within the CGM and will be assigned to lead or support activities related to developing new testing capabilities, developing protocols related to safety, operations, testing, and data archiving, onboarding and mentoring of researchers, advising on centrifuge experimental design, coordinating facility access and use by research teams, and tracking facility activities and usage, among others.
• Make significant, original, and creative research contributions as a PI through research grants addressing topics in the broader geotechnical engineering discipline with a scope that includes the use of CGM centrifuge facilities. In this capacity the individual will plan, direct, guide, coordinate, supervise, and execute research in all aspects including creating project work plans, experiment design, testing, data analysis, simulation, and reporting.
• Write and edit project technical memoranda, research reports, and guidelines.
• Participate in technical conferences, symposiums, seminars, expert task groups, and meetings to present research findings.
• Participate in technology and research scanning activities to identify results, methods, procedures, equipment, materials, and other pavement technology related to the CGM program and projects.

Publication (15%)

• The appointee will publish research in peer-reviewed journals and peer reviewed national and international conferences either independently or in collaboration with the Pl or other members of the CGM team. Publication includes curating research data sets on archival platforms.

Grant Acquisition & Reporting (15%)

• Lead (as PI) and assist (as co-PI) in writing proposals and resource development for funding with federal (e.g., National Science Foundation, Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Highway Administration), state (e.g. Caltrans, Department of Water Resources, Division of Safey of Dams), and other agencies and companies, to secure funding to perform research using and/or support operations of the UC Davis Center for Geotechnical Modeling.
  
  The Professional Researcher will support the CGM's efforts to maintain a steady funding stream to maintain continuous operation.
• Professional Researcher will actively participate in fulfilling reporting requirements of research and operations grants secured by themselves as PI or other operations grants secured by the Center for Geotechnical Modeling.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10%)

The appointee will participate in professional societies, including membership on committees, educational organizations, and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field within geotechnical engineering. The appointee will serve as a reviewer of research proposals, research reports, journal manuscripts, technical presentations, professional publications, and other scientific publications related to his/her areas of expertise. The appointee will attend seminars to present research results and may give oral presentations to public and professional groups.

When appropriate, the appointee may coordinate and/or give presentations at seminars, meetings, or educational functions.

Ill. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)

• guest lecturing,
• committee service,
• supporting the development of research skills of…