Senior Associate

Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy; Dadri; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy is seeking a Senior Associate to work on weather and chemistry transport modelling. The role involves optimising chemical transport models, analysing satellite datasets, and developing proposals.

Candidates must hold a PhD in air pollution or related fields, with experience in WRF-Chem and/or CAMx. Proficiency in Python and high-performance computing is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of research experience in WRF-Chem, CAMx, or any chemical transport model during PhD.
• Hands-on experience with WRF-Chem/WRF-CAMx or similar CTMs required.

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and optimise regional-scale chemical transport models.
• Analyse and validate model outputs against measurements.
• Create data visualisations and communicate findings.
• Generate project proposals and lead reports/articles.
• Participate in conferences and workshops.

Skills

Experience with Chemical Transport Models (CTMs)

Data Analysis Skills

Programming Skills (Python, FORTRAN)

High-Performance Computing

Ability to handle large datasets

Excellent communication skills

Education

PhD in air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, or equivalent

Master’s degree with chemistry/atmospheric chemistry and meteorology coursework

Tools

WRF-Chem

CAMx

Linux/Unix

Job description

For this post, we are seeking candidates with expertise in weather/chemistry transport modelling, and satellite data analysis and visualisation. The applicant must have experience working with the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) and/or the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) on High-Performance Computing (HPC) platforms. She/he should also have experience working with satellite datasets (e.g. MODIS and TROPOMI) and should be proficient in high-level programming languages for data processing.

The Senior Associate will work on WRF-CAMx and/or WRF-Chem or equivalent modelling systems to perform model inter-comparison and validation using satellite/ground-based measurements, make adjustments to the model setup to improve model performance, and assist in preparing model inputs for use in reduced-complexity model(s).

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and optimise regional-scale chemical transport models (e.g. WRF-Chem and WRF-CAMx) on HPCs.
• Analyse and validate model outputs against ground-based and satellite measurements.
• Create data visualisations and effectively communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Generate new ideas leading to project proposals and contribute to/lead project reports/journal articles/Op‑Ed, etc.
• Participate in relevant conferences and workshops, as required.

Qualifications

• PhD in a discipline related to air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, or equivalent.
• Should have studied chemistry/atmospheric chemistry and meteorology as part of the Master’s degree/PhD coursework.
• Minimum two years of research experience in WRF-Chem, CAMx and/or any chemical transport model during PhD.

Skills set

• Experience with CTMs: Hands‑on experience with WRF-Chem/WRF-CAMx, or similar CTMs.
• Data Analysis Skills: Ability to analyse model outputs and validate them with measurement data using statistical methods
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in Python for data analysis and visualisation, shell scripting for running models, FORTRAN to debug model code.
• High-Performance Computing: Familiarity with Linux/Unix and running CTM simulations on HPC systems.
• Ability to handle large volume of datasets (NetCDF, HDF, GRIB, ASCII, geo‑referenced data).
• Should have published peer‑reviewed journal articles in international journals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting findings, writing reports/journal articles, and contributing to proposals.