Post Doctoral Fellow - Alaska Climate Research Center (ACRC)

The mission of the Alaska Climate Research Center (ACRC) is to disseminate high-quality climate data and information pertaining to Alaska and the Arctic; foster better use of this information in decision-making; conduct applied research related to climate and other environmental issues; and improve the coordination of climate-related activities at state, regional and national scales.

The ACRC is looking for two Post-Doctoral Fellows to conduct research in atmospheric sciences to systematically acquire and disseminate climate-related information. Excellent collaborative skills are required as the work will be linked to multidisciplinary groups with joint activities with national and international collaborators.

The ACRC Post-Doctoral Fellow will assist and provide support to data users. The position aims to support the development of modern ACRC products, services, and capabilities that enhance the delivery of climate information. The position will be aligned with the ACRC mission and existing and future ACRC research projects. The candidate is expected to enthusiastically 'live' Alaska's weather and climate, analyze atmospheric data with state-of-the-art statistical methods, and report weather and climate phenomena to a wide community.

The postdoc will carry out research, operational center duties, and outreach. Practical tasks include the development of protocols for in situ measurements, applying new laboratory techniques, data analysis, and paper writing. The postdoc will be assigned to existing or new research projects depending on the skillset. Current ACRC projects are related to weather and climate observations, air quality modeling, satellite and airborne remote sensing, hyperspectral data acquisition, and analysis, applying ML methods to various imaging techniques.

To be successful, the candidate should have a strong background in Atmospheric Sciences with a Ph.D. in a natural science subject (physics, meteorology, climatology, or similar), good programming skills (such as Python), and experience with large datasets. 

The candidate needs to have excellent communication skills in English (our working language), a proven scientific publication record, and training or experience in Earth system or numerical weather modeling is desirable, but not essential.

It is desirable that the candidate has an interest in working in partly challenging Alaska conditions.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: - General knowledge of atmospheric science is required.

- Specific knowledge of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating climate-related data.

- Sufficient relevant experience to contribute significantly to a specific project.

- Experience using computers and other appropriate equipment to conduct the proposed research.

- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

- Ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

- 3-6 months of research experience in climate dynamics, numerical weather model applications and development (i.e., WRF), or parameterization of Arctic atmospheric processes (i.e., radiation, convection, and dispersion of aerosol)

- 3-6 months experience working in supercomputing environments (Linux/Unix), proficiency with modern programming languages (i.e., Python)

3-6 months of previous experience running coupled climate simulations



Required Experience & Education:

Ph.D. degree (already received, or have completed all requirements and awaiting graduation) emphasizing relevant scientific field. Must possess a terminal degree before the start of the position. Specific knowledge of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating climate-related data. Experience using computers and other appropriate equipment to conduct the proposed research.

Salary Information:

 

This is a full-time, exempt post doctoral fellow position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. 

This position is term-funded and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

 

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please attach your CV, cover letter, and the names and contact information of three (3) professional references with your application.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.  Review of application materials will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified

 

This position is represented by United Academics (UNAC). http://www.unitedacademics.net/

This position is term-funded and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please get in touch with UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

 

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UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination

 

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The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

 

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Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

 

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If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Lisa Piechocki, Geophysical Institute HR Manager, at lrpiechocki@alaska.edu or 907-474-7194.

 

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