Postdoctoral Scholars Create Real-World Impact
The University of North Florida empowers postdoctoral scholars with the resources, mentorship and world-class infrastructure they need to conduct meaningful, purpose-driven work, including research that drives scientific discovery, informs practice, fuels innovation and enhances quality of life locally and globally.
Why Choose UNF as a Postdoctoral Scholar?
Mentorship and growth
UNF postdocs don't get lost in the crowd. Working with dedicated faculty on nationally recognized projects, you'll gain the kind of direct, meaningful mentorship larger institutions can't offer. Every experience is designed to sharpen your skills and position you to make meaningful contributions to your field from day one.
Meaningful, applied research
At the University of North Florida, we prioritize research that makes a difference. Whether you're exploring coastal ecosystems, improving human health, expanding scientific knowledge, advancing technology or informing educational practice, your work here can create meaningful impact well beyond the laboratory.
State-of-the-art facilities
UNF gives postdocs access to unique Northeast Florida archival collections, a mature digital humanities ecosystem, rich community partnerships, and advanced research infrastructure that supports discovery across coastal and environmental sciences, health sciences, engineering, computing and emerging technologies.
Research That Improves Lives and Drives Meaningful Change
At UNF, inquiry is more than a pursuit: it's a purpose. Our postdoctoral scholars work at the forefront of discovery, tackling complex challenges and translating their findings into solutions that ripple across communities and industries.
Take the Perry Weather Heat Lab at UNF's Korey Stringer Institute (KSI). Opened in 2025 as KSI's first satellite location beyond the University of Connecticut, the lab is redefining how the nation understands and prevents heat-related illness. Here, post-doctoral associate Dr. Gabrielle Brewer helps lead pioneering research into thermoregulation, performance and safety, work that directly informs real-world protocols for athletes, military personnel and outdoor workers.
This is the kind of impact postdocs can generate at UNF.
Strengthening Civics Education Through Postdoctoral Scholarship
In October 2025, UNF's Silverfield College of Education and Human Services secured a three-year, $2.1 million U.S. Department of Education grant to launch the Cultivating Comprehensive Civics Education Professional Development Program (3C-EPD). This strategic partnership with Duval County Public Schools and the Lou Frey Institute at UCF will deliver measurable outcomes for 90 in-service civics teachers across Northeast Florida. The initiative reflects UNF's commitment to externally funded, interdisciplinary research combining rigorous instructional design, scalable program architecture and cross-institutional collaboration with direct implications for policy and practice.
Central to the program's success is the expertise in instructional design and assessment provided by postdoctoral scholar Eric Schoute. His role reinforces a core institutional value: postdoctoral scholars at UNF are essential architects of purpose-driven research that shapes policy, strengthens communities and delivers measurable impact, hallmarks of an institution committed to advancing its research legacy and its people.
Discovery in Action: Meet Our Current Scholars
Every UNF postdoc brings a unique perspective, a bold research agenda, and a commitment to making a difference. Explore how these emerging scholars are advancing knowledge, driving innovation, and creating impact through research, scholarship, and community engagement.
| Postdoctoral Scholar | Unit | Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Sumit Raj | Engineering | Jim Fletcher |
| Valentina Bongiovanni | Education | Meghan Parkinson |
| Eric Schoute | Education | Daniel Dinsmore |
| Savannah Ryburn | Biology | Jim Gelsleicher |
| Gabrielle Brewer | Korey Stringer Institute – Brooks College of Health | Michelle Boling |
| Aniqa Ibnat Lim | Chemistry | Stuart Chalk |
Explore UNF Research
Many postdoctoral opportunities begin with a conversation. Connect with faculty whose research inspires you and inquire about current and future opportunities.
Already a Postdoctoral Scholar at UNF?
If you're already at UNF, we've put together a collection of helpful resources for you to help you conduct your postdoctoral research.