Job Description

Classification Title:

Postdoctoral Associate

Classification Minimum Requirements:

PhD in statistics, data science, business analytics, sports analytics, operations research, computer science, or a closely related quantitative field, earned by July 1, 2026.

Job Description:

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. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.

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 (GitHub).
• Supervise and mentor undergraduate and masters 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. For more information, see: https://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/eligibility/post-doctoral-associates/.

Department of Sport Management

The Department of Sport Management (SPM) is committed to excellence and impact through: (a) innovative, socially impactful research; (b) preparation and training of future industry and academic professionals; (c) community engagement; and (d) stewardship of the future of sport. The department includes approximately 8 instructional and 8 tenured or tenure‑track faculty, supported by award‑winning advisory and administrative staff. Across residential and online programs, SPM serves more than 900 students (about 550 undergraduate majors, 316 master’s students, and 16 PhD students). The Sport Management online program was one of the first in the country and remains a thriving part of the department. Additional information about the department’s research and teaching activities is available at https://hhp.ufl.edu/about/departments/spm/.

The University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF) is one of the top‑ranked public universities in the United States and is Florida’s oldest and largest land‑grant university. UF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and enrolls approximately 61,000 students annually across 16 colleges and more than 200 research, service, and education centers, bureaus, and institutes. UF reported more than $1 billion in research expenditures in the last fiscal year, reflecting a vibrant culture of interdisciplinary scholarship.

UF’s main campus is located in Gainesville, a city of approximately 141,000 residents in North‑Central Florida. Gainesville offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, a strong public school system, and convenient access to both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Expected Salary:

$60,000–$70,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience

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 GitHub 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:

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 March 22, 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@ufl.edu )

Applicants must apply online through the University of Florida’s employment website at https://jobs.ufl.edu/ and upload the following:

1. 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 applicant envisions contributing to applied sports analytics and co‑authoring publications with the UF Sports Analytics Lab team.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. One or two sample outputs, such as publications, preprints, technical reports, or code repositories (e.g., GitHub links) that demonstrate applied analytics work.
4. Contact information for three professional references (name, title, affiliation, email, and phone). Letters of recommendation may be requested later in the search process.

All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a review of criminal records, reference checks, and verification of education.

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States require evaluation by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required:No

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