Post Doctoral Scholar

University of Central Florida • Orlando, FL

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The SHIELD Lab in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Scholar through UCF’s Preeminent Postdoctoral Program (P3) to conduct research at the intersection of structural dynamics and sensing, human-centered intelligent infrastructure, signal processing, machine learning, and data science. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Yohanna Mejia Cruz on the development of sensing and computational frameworks to characterize human mobility and behavior, with a particular focus on individuals with physical and cognitive impairments. The research will explore how the built environment can serve as a source of information to better understand mobility patterns, identify changes in behavior and potentially unsafe events, and support safer and more independent living. Approaches may integrate vibration-based and multi-modal sensing, structural dynamics, signal processing, sensor fusion, machine learning, and data-driven modeling, with the broader goal of advancing human-centered intelligent infrastructure, smart cities, and resilient communities. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping a growing research program, collaborate with researchers across engineering, health, rehabilitation, and other interdisciplinary fields, mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers, lead peer-reviewed publications, present research at national and international conferences, and contribute to the development of competitive research proposals.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field, from an accreditied institution, with demonstrated expertise relevant to structural dynamics, sensing, signal processing, or data-driven analysis of physical systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python, including experience with scientific computing and data analysis.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong scientific writing and communication skills.
• Ability and interest in working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research environment.
• All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. H-1B visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with human-subject, mobility, rehabilitation, biomechanical, or health-related data, including experiments involving human participants and familiarity with IRB protocols and procedures.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary research environments, particularly across engineering, health, rehabilitation, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research aligned with the research mission of the SHIELD Lab.
• Design and conduct experimental studies involving structural and human-centered sensing.
• Develop and implement computational frameworks for processing and analyzing vibration, sensor, mobility, and mmulti-modal data.
• Develop reproducible research workflows and maintain well-documented research code and datasets.
• Lead and contribute to manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
• Present research findings at national and international conferences and professional meetings.
• Contribute to research proposals, technical reports, and other scholarly products.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research partners at UCF and other institutions.

Benefits

• The position is supported through UCF’s Preeminent Postdoctoral Program (P3), which provides additional opportunities and resources for the scholar’s professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree