Post Doctoral Fellow - International Arctic Research Center

Climate change drives the fundamental reconstruction of the Arctic system making it more dynamic and strongly integrated into the global system. One manifestation of these changes is increasingly strong Borealization of the Arctic Ocean associated with the advection of anomalous sub-Arctic Atlantic- (known as Atlantification) and Pacific-origin (known as Pacification) inflows into the polar basins contributing to regional sea-ice decline. The goal of the project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy is to quantify and understand the role of Arctic Borealization in forming regional freshwater and heat budgets under the new realities of climate change. For that, a synergistic combination of modeling and observational approaches will be used to document, quantify, and understand the long-term, broad-scale evolution of regional and pan-Arctic climate system. The proposed synthesis of observations and modeling, which unifies efforts of researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), will inform the scientific community and broader public about major changes in the Arctic Ocean and beyond, as well as their potential impacts on the state of the ice cover.

The postdoctoral researcher’s major responsibilities are broad and include analysis of observational and modeling data to address the project goal thus providing synergy between the project’s components and between UAF and LANL teams.

Responsibilities include:

- Initial processing of newly recovered mooring data with the team's support.
- Statistical analysis of mooring and sea ice data, including data curation and archival work.
- Analyzing climate model data, including validation of model output against observations, disentangling mechanisms of Arctic Borealization and its role in high-latitude climate change, and quantifying the relative role of Atlantification and Pacification to the emerging spatiotemporal patterns of oceanic and sea-ice changes and heat and freshwater budgets of the Arctic Ocean.
-Taking part in synthesis of observations and modeling as a part of the project team.
- Publishing in peer reviewed journals.
- Disseminating results at meetings and conferences.

The postdoctoral researcher will reside at the UAF campus in Fairbanks, Alaska. However, LANL will host the postdoc for visits to LANL which will help with the analysis of modeling data. The postdocdoctoral researcher will be given the opportunity to participate in scientific cruises into the high Arctic.

To thrive in this role, a successful candidate will have familiarity and knowledge in assessing the effect of climate change and the ability to work with large data sets, programing with Python, Matlab or similar proficiency in statistical analysis software, expertise in data processing, evaluation of data quality and basic statistics, demonstrated experience in co-production of knowledge, excellent communication in writing and spoken English, and publications and presentation record as per career level.

Minimum Qualifications:

PhD in Oceanography or a relevant discipline/PhD degree ( e.g., oceanography, atmospheric sciences, physics, environmental studies, etc.) already received or has completed all requirements and awaiting graduation) with emphasis on relevant science field.  Demonstrated experience with oceanographic and/or atmospheric science research methods (e.g., data processing, statistical analyses, etc.).

Position Details:

This position funded for four year starting from September 2024. It is located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in Fairbanks, and flexible on-site. This is a full-time, exempt, faculty position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. This position is represented by United Academics (UNAC)  http://www.unitedacademics.net/

Please submit: A cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, three professional references with contact information (phone number and emails). 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

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

This position is represented by United Academics (UNAC). https://unitedacademicsak.org/

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

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

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

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

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Delia Lopez-Ketzler, International Arctic Research Center HR Coordinator, at dketzler@alaska.edu or 907-474-1960.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.