Assistant Professor of Physical Climatology and Earth System Science

Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences; Mississippi; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences, invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in climate science. The successful candidate will advance climate variability and Earth-system processes through observation, modeling, theory, and quantitative analysis.

The department seeks strength in physical climatology, regional/global modeling, and Earth-system science, including opportunities for collaboration with NOAA-funded research via the Northern

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Climate Science, Earth-system Science, Geosciences, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Strong background in physical climatology or climate dynamics.
• Experience with or interest in climate modeling, regional/global Earth-system modeling, and satellite observations.
• Ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams and contribute to teaching.
• Commitment to undergraduate and graduate mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Establish an externally funded research program in the department.
• Develop and teach courses in climate science and Earth-system processes.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Collaborate with NOAA-funded researchers and external partners.

Skills

Physical climatology

Climate modeling

Earth-system science

Satellite observations

Quantitative analysis

Education

Ph.D. in a related field

Tools

High-performance computing (HPC)

NOAA-funded research infrastructure

Job description

The Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek an innovative climate scientist who advances the understanding of climate variability, climate change, and Earth-system processes through observations, modeling, theory, and quantitative analysis.

The position is intended to strengthen the department's capabilities in physical climatology, climate modeling, and Earth-system science. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, climate dynamics, climate variability and change, land
atmosphere interactions, atmospheric composition and chemistry, aerosol-climate interactions, regional climate processes, Earth-system modeling, and climate system dynamics. While applicants from all areas of climate science are encouraged to apply, candidates whose research integrates observations, including satellite observations, and modeling to improve understanding of the Earth’s climate system are strongly encouraged.

We are especially interested in scientists who develop or apply quantitative methods to investigate climate processes across spatial and temporal scales and who contribute to improving understanding or prediction of climate variability and change.

Relevant expertise may include physical climatology, climate dynamics, regional or global climate modeling, Earth-system modeling, land-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric chemistry, aerosol science, climate diagnostics, and satellite-based
climate observations. Candidates are not expected to specialize in all of these areas.

Research

The successful candidate will establish an externally funded research program within the Department of Geosciences and will have opportunities to participate in ongoing NOAAfunded research conducted through the Northern Gulf Institute at Mississippi State University.

The department is particularly interested in candidates whose research advances the observation, understanding, modeling, or prediction of climate and Earth-system processes. Examples include the development or application of regional or global climate models; Earth-system models; investigations of climate dynamics and variability; landatmosphere interactions; atmospheric chemistry and aerosol-climate interactions; climate diagnostics and attribution; or integrated approaches that combine observations, including satellite observations, with modeling and quantitative analysis.

Available research infrastructure includes access to high-performance computing resources and institutional support for computationally intensive and data-rich geoscience research.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a research program that complements departmental strengths while fostering collaborations across atmospheric science, hydrology, geography, geology, and related disciplines. Opportunities also exist for collaboration with NOAA-funded researchers and external partners addressing challenges related to climate variability, climate change, environmental hazards, and Earth-system prediction.

Teaching and Graduate Education

The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate education within the Department of Geosciences. Teaching responsibilities will include existing courses aligned with the candidate's expertise as well as the development of new courses that strengthen student understanding of climate science and Earth-system processes.

Potential instructional areas include physical climatology, climate dynamics, climate variability and change, climate modeling, Earth-system science, atmospheric chemistry, aerosol-climate interactions, climate diagnostics, and satellite applications in climate research.

A central goal of this position is to expand opportunities for students to develop expertise in modern approaches to climate research, including the use of observations, numerical models, and quantitative methods to investigate climate variability, climate change, and Earth-system processes.

The successful candidate will advise undergraduate and graduate students, mentor student research, and serve on master's and doctoral committees across appropriate areas of the Department of Geosciences.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Climate Science, Earth-System Science, Geosciences, Environmental Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Potential to establish a productive, externally funded research program;
• Expertise in physical climatology or a closely related area of climate science;
• Experience with or strong interest in climate dynamics, climate modeling, Earthsystem modeling, atmospheric chemistry, aerosol-climate interactions, landatmosphere interactions, climate diagnostics, satellite observations, or related methodologies;
• Potential to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary research teams in Geosciences;
• Potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring; and
• Ability to contribute to the Department of Geosciences through research, teaching, graduate education, and service.

Experience with NOAA-funded research, regional or global climate modeling systems, Earth-system models, atmospheric chemistry or aerosol modeling, satellite observations, or high-performance computing is desirable but not required.

MSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and your advertisement will be compliant with MSU requirements.