Postdoctoral Researcher in Autonomous Forest Navigation and SLAM

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778.

Job Description

The Nevada Center for Applied Research (NCAR) at the University of Nevada, Reno seeks a thoughtful and innovative postdoctoral researcher to join our interdisciplinary team developing autonomous drone systems for wildfire prevention.

This NASA-funded position, in close collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientists, offers a unique opportunity to apply cutting-edge robotics to protect communities and ecosystems from catastrophic wildfires.

Working alongside experts in robotics, forest ecology, remote sensing, and fire science, you'll be developing autonomous navigation systems that enable drones to fly safely beneath forest canopies, collecting critical data that current technologies cannot capture. This meaningful work directly supports forest managers in making informed decisions that safeguard both human communities and natural ecosystems.

Candidates should have the ability to work both independently and as part of a small, close-knit team, as well as the ability to perform fieldwork in mountain forest environments, including hiking on uneven terrain while carrying equipment (up to 50 lbs) and working outdoors in various weather conditions.

We value a supportive, collaborative environment where team members can grow both professionally and personally while contributing to impactful research. This grant is funded for 3 years. The initial appointment is for one year with a planned extension based on funding continuation and satisfactory performance.

Duties: Working closely with a small, dedicated team, you will:

• Design and implement SLAM-based navigation algorithms for GPS-denied forest environments (45%)

• Develop multi-sensor integration software for LiDAR, cameras, and IMU/GNSS systems (30%)

• Support flight operations and field deployments at forest test sites (20%)

• Share your work through publications and open-source contributions (5%)

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field

• Demonstrated expertise in SLAM, preferably aerial SLAM projects

• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python with ROS/ROS2 experience

• Experience with autonomous path planning and control systems

• Track record of hands-on robotics projects (please include GitHub/portfolio links)

Preferred Experience:

• Aerial robotics/drone development experience

• GTSAM or similar factor graph optimization frameworks

• Field robotics deployment in challenging environments

• Multi-sensor calibration and fusion

• Commitment to open-source development and reproducible research

• Interest in environmental applications and forest ecosystem preservation

Work Environment & Expectations:

• On-site position with fieldwork requirements

• Collaborative small team (2-4 members) with mentorship opportunities

• Balance of lab development and meaningful fieldwork in forest environments

• Flexible schedule supporting work-life balance and personal growth

Compensation Grade Postdoctoral Scholar - $81,120 - $86,060 annually with comprehensive benefits

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Perks of Working at UNR!

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• Generous annual and sick leave, life insurance – Faculty Benefits

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

Department Information

The Nevada Center for Applied Research is an applied research and development technology center. We serve to enhance the global competitiveness of Nevada industry by leveraging the physical assets and intellectual expertise at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Our mission is to create professional, flexible, sustainable, market-responsive technology and innovation services that stimulate regional, innovation-based economic development by aligning the needs of industry, startup companies, researchers, students and entrepreneurs with resources at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The center is a part of the University’s Innovation Ecosystem within Research & Innovation. The concept is founded through the Knowledge Fund, which is supported by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and embraced and championed by the City of Reno.

About Reno: Located in the high desert at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Reno offers an exceptional quality of life for outdoor enthusiasts. Just 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe's world-class skiing and water recreation, and surrounded by hundreds of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, Reno provides year-round access to wilderness areas while maintaining a vibrant downtown with a thriving arts, culture, and culinary scene. With over 300 days of sunshine annually, mild seasons, and no state income tax, Reno combines urban amenities with unparalleled access to natural beauty.

Contact Information

Krista Wesley - kristawesley@unr.edu

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu

Attach the following attachments to your application

1. CV including links to your GitHub, project portfolios, or other relevant work

2. Cover letter explaining why this position aligns with your career path and how you'll contribute to our mission. We encourage you to share your vision for this role, and what captures your imagination about the work,.

3. Contact Information for three professional references

Application Review: Applications received by November 1, 2025, will be given full consideration. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Anticipated start date is early 2026.

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 RegionalTechnology and InnovationHubs (TechHubs).Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories.Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visitthe University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno