Job Description

Description
The Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington (APL-UW) Science & Engineering Enrichment and Development (SEED) Postdoctoral Scholar Program is now accepting applications to its 2025 cohort. The SEED program offers a unique opportunity for outstanding candidates from a wide variety of academic disciplines to design their own research project around the problems they are passionate about and collaborate with APL researchers. The ideal candidate will lead an innovative research project that expands APL research capabilities into new areas/applications. They may accomplish this by: posing novel research questions, introducing new or underutilized research/engineering methods, and/or developing innovative techniques and capabilities. The goal of the SEED program is to identify highly qualified applicants who possess the skills, creativity, and ingenuity to contribute in unique ways to the growth of the broader APL-UW expertise. Possible research areas include Oceanography, Ocean Engineering, Acoustics, Marine Robotics, Marine Energy, Polar Science, Medical Ultrasound, Signal Processing, and Autonomy. A list of APL-UW departments can be found here: https://apl.uw.edu/departments/departments.php. Projects that reach across multiple research areas are encouraged.

APL SEED Scholars will receive two years of full salary. While the program is designed to facilitate freedom of inquiry and independent study, SEED scholars will be mentored by and collaborate with APL-UW researchers to ensure the success of their postdoctoral research projects. SEED postdocs will also have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and students across the UW campus as well as at other research universities. During their tenure at APL, SEED scholars will be encouraged to lead grant proposal writing in collaboration with their mentors in anticipation of funding their scientific programs beyond the 2-year fellowship period. Promotion within APL following the completion of the postdoc appointment is possible but is not the central goal of the SEED program.

Qualifications
Doctoral degree in a field related to APL-UW research.

Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and communicate the results through scholarly output (e.g., peer reviewed literature, conference proceedings, technical reports).

No more than 36 cumulative months of prior postdoctoral experience.

Application Instructions
The application process will proceed in four sequential stages:

Stage 1: Written synopsis of proposed research concept (due November 15 2024):

Pitch your postdoctoral research idea in a brief (written) synopsis of the proposed work that includes:

i) a description of the novel research questions you are interested in addressing and/or innovative techniques/capabilities you would bring to an existing research question relevant to work being done at APL (1,200 words limit – approximately 2 pages).

ii) a statement describing how your academic background and analytic or technical skill set positions you to make progress on the proposed research question (600 word limit – approximately one page).

iii) a curriculum vitae, including a publication list and any additional scholarly output such as technical reports, software, presentations, etc.

In this initial stage (Stage 1), there is no need to connect with and identify potential mentors/collaborators at UW-APL, or to detail the specific resources your work will require. This is not intended to be a full proposal, but rather an opportunity to describe a novel research concept you wish to explore. Broadly describe your own research idea and how it has the potential to engage APL-UW research groups. The Stage 1 applications will be evaluated on the following four criteria: 1) novelty of proposed research; 2) whether the applicant’s skillset positions them to perform the proposed research and expand APL research capabilities; 3) alignment of the proposed research with the broad APL research themes and potential to instigate new collaborations within APL and the broader UW research community and; 4) applicant’s demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and communicate the results. Inquiries about the application materials can be directed to the SEED committee ([email protected]). Successful applicants will have the opportunity to develop potential APL/UW collaborations and mentors during Stage 2 of the application process.

Stage 2: On site visits to identify UW APL collaborators/mentors – Single day event in January 2025 in Seattle, WA

Successful Stage 1 applicants will be invited to the UW APL campus to pitch their research ideas to the UW APL research community and identify potential collaborators and mentors. During this single day event, applicants will give a short oral presentation on their proposed research in the morning and then have the opportunity to meet UW APL researchers in the afternoon. The goal of this event is to identify UW collaborators to help further develop the applicant’s proposed research program and an APL mentor with whom to develop the final written proposal (Stage 3).

Stage 3: Development and submission of full written proposals (due March 14, 2025)

All Stage 2 participants will be invited to submit full (5 pages excluding references) written proposals to be evaluated for final selection. Applicants are expected to collaborate with the APL mentors/collaborators identified in Stage 2 on their final proposals. These proposals will describe the research problem, the approach to the research and include the UW APL collaborators who will be involved and the resources needed to complete the research.

Stage 4: Proposals are reviewed by the SEED committee and final Fellowship offers are made in April 2025.

Disability Services

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected].

Compensation

The salary range is between $7,000.00 - $8,441.00/month ($84,000.00 - $101,292.00 annual), commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.

Relocation funding is available, ranging from $4,000.00 - $8,000.00 based on the postdoc’s geographic region relative to APL’s location on UW’s Seattle campus

Each postdoc will also receive a startup research allowance of $12,000.00; research department(s) and/or PI(s) may supplement at their discretion.

Why APL-UW?

From an integral position within the University of Washington scholarship, research, and innovation enterprise, we apply rigorous scientific inquiry and engineering excellence to pursue solutions for the good of our region, nation and world. Our lab is the world around us! Check out a glimpse of our lab and See Yourself at APL!

Take advantage of these opportunities and more at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington. As an APL-UW employee, you not only get to enjoy the opportunities and benefits of UW, but also be a member of a team of world-renowned researchers, scientists, and engineers dedicated to bettering our campuses, state, country, and world by solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies.

Diversity is a core value at the Applied Physics Laboratory – University of Washington. We are focused on building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable research environment for all students, staff, and collaborators. We believe every member on our team enriches our community by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

Mentoring: Postdoctoral Scholars are engaged in full-time mentored advanced training to enhance professional skills and research independence, and perform primarily research and scholarship under the direction and supervision of APL principle investigators.

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website: https://hr.uw.edu/labor/academic-and-student-unions/uaw-postdocs/uaw-postdoc-contract.