Postdoctoral Research Associate

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

Primary Location:

Bargaining Unit:

Yes

Seeking a postdoctoral research associate in the Initiative for the Theoretical Sciences at the CUNY Graduate Center. The postdoctoral research associate will work independently and in collaborations in any discipline where large-scale computation, simulation, or data-driven methods play an essential role.  The postdoc will have access to Empire AI and will be expected to utilize its substantial computational power in their research. The postdoc will be expected to design algorithms that scale efficiently on GPU clusters, manage distributed computation and storage, and develop analysis pipelines that connect the resulting data back to rigorous mathematics. We are interested in proposals that push the limits of current computational practice in their area – whether through very large simulations, massive combinatorial or statistical searches, or the use of large generative models guided by mathematical structures. 

The postdoc will be supported by the rich intellectual environment at the CUNY Graduate Center which includes Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Computer Science, and the Initiative for Theoretical Sciences and is expected to engage with the broader mathematics community to enhance their research and professional development. Candidates are expected to prepare publications and conference talks. The start date will be around September 1, 2026.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Mathematics, Physics or closely related fields

• Doctoral degree should be obtained within five years of appointment to this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with large-scale computation is desired.

CUNY Title Overview:

Conducts research activities with the mentorship of a CUNY faculty member.

- Collaborates with internal and external researchers

- Adheres to relevant regulations and ethical conduct standards pertinent to the conduct of their research.

- Performs related duties as assigned

Pay Range:

Minimum - Maximum: $85,000

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals (link to https://www.rfcuny.org/RFWebsite)

About the Research Foundation
The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.
RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.