The primary purpose of this position, Sponsored Programs Specialist, GS-1702-9 potential GS-1702-12, is to carry out the beginning lifecycle of the proposal processes by ensuring compliance, tracking, reviewing, and finalizing proposals for submission to sponsors.

- Responsible for the pre-award grant preparation and submission processes as well as other pre- award activities.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements and keep abreast of emerging trends and professional development to remain current in the field of research administration.
- Represent to internal and external stakeholders in support of the office mission.
- Conduct research and prepare documents and/or technical reports incorporating project and financial information.

Serve as a Postdoctoral Researcher to substantially increase faculty productivity and improve AFIT educational and research products. Postdoctoral researchers provide a unique opportunity to educate civilian human capital for the Air Force workforce thereby meeting AF STEM human capital needs.

Performs the following postdoctoral fellow duties in the Department of Engineering Physics, Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology:

• Technical problem solving. The incumbent solves research problems to gain additional skills and experience within their area of academic discipline. Technical problem-solving activities include but are not limited to: identifying potential solutions to novel research problems; designing and executing studies to answer research questions; analyzing and interpreting research findings; configuring and designing relevant hardware and/or software; building relevant and useful research models; evaluating existing research techniques, analyzing systems, and recommending improvements to ensure quality and productivity.
• Mentorship and Collaboration.The incumbent develops mentorship and collaboration skills by partnering with their research mentor to organize, plan, and execute group research projects. Postdoctoral fellows expand their mentorship skills by partnering with AFIT students in informal settings to guide student investigations, offer research support, and share technical knowledge. The incumbent will collaborate with faculty inside and outside their discipline to identify relevant research questions, develop methods to answer research questions, and to work cooperatively to solve research problems of mutual interest.
• Communication. A Postdoctoral researcher prepares manuscripts for publication; documents research activities to ensure reproducibility; and assists in the preparation of proposals and funding reports. The incumbent is responsible for presenting research outputs at relevant conferences, program reviews, sponsor meetings and similar events. Postdoctoral researchers are responsible for reading, understanding, applying technical articles and maintaining a working knowledge of the state of the art in research. The Postdoctoral researcher effectively engages with the broader academic and defense communities by communicating as an active participant in internal and external scientific committees, conferences, including reviewing and critiquing student thesis papers, dissertations, and student thesis/doctoral committee activities.