Postdoctoral Associate; Postdoctoral Associate - UF Sports Analytics Lab

Postdoctoral Associate in Sports Analytics

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 (Git Hub).
• Supervise and mentor undergraduate and master's 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 on 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.

Postdoctoral Associates at UF are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance options; retirement programs; and paid leave, subject to FTE and program rules.

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 Git Hub 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:

• 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.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

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.

Nestler (nestler.scott). Applicants must apply online through the University of Florida's employment website at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). 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…