Postdoctoral Researcher in Arctic Carbon at Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, MA, USA
About this position:
Mission:
Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. They partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.
Summary/Objective:
Join Woodwell’s NASA Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) team as a Postdoctoral Researcher to support a modeling project that investigates the impacts of changing ecosystem greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and albedo on atmosphere radiative forcing within the Arctic-boreal zone. The Postdoctoral Researcher will work directly as a member of the ABoVE science community to assist with an ongoing multi-model comparison of bottom-up CO2 and CH4 flux budget estimates for the Arctic-boreal domain. The Postdoctoral Researcher will also lead the radiative forcing component of this study, using the compiled bottom-up GHG budgets, in addition to gridded fire emission products and gridded satellite-based albedo products as drivers. This position requires a background in atmospheric modeling, experience with computer coding and high-performance computing, and the ability to work independently.
Responsibilities: Work with and analyze gridded GHG flux data provided from multiple bottom-up machine learning and process-based models. Compare the bottom-up flux data with GHG estimates provided through atmospheric inversions.
- Work with additional gridded datasets of satellite-informed wildfire emissions and albedo.
- Prepare bottom-up carbon flux data for inclusion into atmosphere radiative forcing models (i.e., derive input atmosphere GHG concentrations from flux products).
- Work with atmosphere radiative transfer model to identify changes in radiative forcing due to spatiotemporal changes in terrestrial and aquatic GHG flux and albedo.
- Execute a variety of complex research procedures with little supervision.
- Schedule own work and lead project implementation with minimal supervision.
- Assist in project planning and contribute to data analysis, and interpretation.
- Lead and assist with manuscript preparation.
- Serve as a member of the NASA ABoVE science team; participate in virtual working group meetings; attend annual ABoVE science team meeting.
- Present research at annual American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall meetings.
- Attend Woodwell’s weekly (virtual) Arctic group lab meeting.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Ph.D. (or while obtaining the Ph.D.) in atmospheric science, applied mathematics, statistics, or earth system sciences.
- Scientific modeling and working with various coding languages (e.g., Fortran, C++, Python), 2+ years of experience.
- Working with atmosphere radiative transfer models.
- Multi-dimensional process model output, advanced statistical techniques, and manipulating large data sets.
- Familiarity with Linux/Unix systems and/or supercomputing systems.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and in a highly collaborative environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Working with atmosphere transport and/or inverse modeling is a plus.
- Knowledge of regional and global carbon cycles and experience working with atmosphere GHG data (CO2 and CH4).
- Interest in climate change impacts on the northern high latitude Arctic-boreal region (including permafrost region).
- Ability to meet requirements for access to NASA computing systems.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
- Ability to lift 25 pounds
- Ability to communicate
- Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
- Ability to use phone and computers
- Repetitive movements
- Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event
Application review will be ongoing.
Desired Start Date: 5 February 2024 (some flexibility).
Fixed-term: 6 February 2026, or two years after start date.
Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range is $69,000.00 to $75,000.00 dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.
Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts or remote.
Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as a single PDF to their career’s portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please type PDAC on all correspondence.
