Postdoctoral Research Associate

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The Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (CCOM) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to support research and development in nautical chart symbology, chart compilation, and visualization of data overlays within decision-support systems for marine navigation. The position focuses primarily on the design, prototyping, and evaluation of symbology for maritime data products, with particular emphasis on layered displays, perceptual evaluation, and robustness under real operational conditions. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of visual perception, digital cartography, and maritime navigation systems, addressing challenges that are becoming increasingly important as new generation maritime products and services continue to expand. The work has direct relevance to international standards development and operational navigation systems and offers opportunities for scholarly publication and community impact.

The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, graduate students, and external partners (including NOAA and International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) working groups) to investigate how symbology behaves under multiple overlapping data layers, varying background conditions, and operational display constraints, and to translate these findings into practical tools, guidelines, and prototype implementations. Furthermore, the candidate may contribute to broader research efforts, including digital chart compilation workflows, geospatial data processing, and related research initiatives within CCOM.

Duties/Responsibilities

Cartographic Research & Analysis (50%)

• Conduct research on color and symbology behavior in layered electronic chart displays, including transparency, blending, and perceptual separability.

• Develop and evaluate methods for perceptually grounded symbology selection, including simulation-based assessment across multiple background contexts.

• Design and execute evaluation studies (analytical and/or user-centered) to assess interpretability, robustness, and usability of proposed symbology.

• Contribute to related research in nautical cartography, including data generalization and automated chart compilation workflows.

Tool & Prototype Development (25%)

• Design and implement prototype tools (e.g., for color evaluation, blending analysis, or symbology testing).

Standards & Collaboration (15%)

• Contribute to standards development for emerging maritime product specifications, including interaction with IHO working groups.

Publications and Service (10%)

• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and IHO information papers.

• Provide mentorship to graduate students working on related topics.

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• PhD in Computer Science, Visualization, Cartography, Geographic Information Science, or a closely related field.

• Strong background in visualization, computer graphics, or perceptual evaluation.

• Demonstrated proficiency in programming (Python required).

• Ability to work independently while contributing to collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills to design, evaluate, and interpret complex visualization and symbology behaviors.

• Effective communication and collaboration abilities, including writing for academic and technical publication, engaging with interdisciplinary teams, and interacting with external partners and standards bodies.

• Self-management, adaptability, and attention to detail, with the ability to work independently, manage multiple research activities, and learn emerging tools, methods, and standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with cartography, GIS, or geospatial data processing.

• Familiarity with color spaces and perceptual metrics (e.g., CIELAB, ΔE-based measures) or a strong willingness to learn.

• Familiarity with maritime navigation systems, ENC/ECDIS concepts, or S-100 standards.

• Experience with user studies, perceptual experiments, or human-factors evaluation.

• Interest in applied research that bridges theory, standards development, and operational use.

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter

• Contact Information for 3 Professional References

Applications that are missing any of the required items may not move forward for consideration. Additional uploaded documents not requested in the position announcement will not be reviewed.

Compensation Pay Range:

$62,000 to $67,000/year

Please be advised that this position is supported by external sponsor funding. As such, continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability of those external funds. If, for any reason, the sponsor funding is reduced or discontinued, employment may be subject to modification or termination in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

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