Earth System Model Development and Analysis Postdoc

Los Alamos National Security LLC; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition assistance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM seeks a postdoctoral research associate to develop water isotope tracers in Earth system models and run on HPC systems. You will publish results and present at conferences, with a two-year term possibly extending to a third.

The role emphasizes modifying large Fortran/C++ codebases, working within E3SM and related models, and collaborating across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Earth System science, atmospheric science, computational science or isotope geochemistry.
• Strong publication and presentation records.
• Experience with high-performance computing environments.
• Experience reading/modifying Fortran, C or C++ code.
• Familiarity with large scientific codebases (E3SM/CESM/WRF/MPAS).

Responsibilities

• Implement, validate and run water isotope tracers in E3SM atmosphere component.
• Modify and debug a large Fortran/C++ codebase on HPC systems.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Collaborate across disciplines with mentors and team members.

Skills

High-performance computing

C/C++

Fortran

Code reading/modification

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Earth System science / related field

Tools

E3SM

CESM

WRF

MPAS

Git

Job description

What You Will Do

Help build water isotope ratio and numerical tracers into one of DOE's flagship Earth System models - and run it on some of the world's fastest computers. The Modeling and Observations of Earth Systems Group in the Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral research associate with experience in Earth system modeling and/or water isotope ratio data synthesis.

You will work as part of a team working on implementing, validating, and conducting experiments with water isotope ratio tracers in the atmospheric component of the Department of Energy's Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM). These tracers will be used to understand hydrological processes in coastal and urban settings and improve representation of these processes in E3SM.

You will be expected to publish results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present your work at conferences.

The term of the appointment is two (2) years, with the possibility to extend to a third year depending on performance and funding availability. This is a computationally intensive position: the successful candidate will spend a substantial fraction of their time modifying, building, debugging, and running a large Fortran/C++ codebase on leadership-class HPC systems.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Ph.D. in Earth System science, atmospheric science, computational science, or stable isotope geochemistry.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, supported by peer-reviewed publication and presentation records
• Ability to set and pursue research priorities with guidance from mentors, and to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries
• Demonstrated research experience with high-performance computing
• Demonstrated experience reading and modifying scientific code written in a compiled language (C, C++ and/or Fortran)
• Demonstrated experience with a large, existing scientific codebase (e.g., E3SM, CESM, WRF, MPAS, ICON, or comparable), including building from source, debugging, and/or running regression or unit tests

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency in C++ and/or Fortran in an MPI-parallel context, programing for GPUs (e.g. Kokkos), or performance profiling
• Fluency with Git and collaborative development workflows
• Proficiency in Python for analysis and visualization of large, gridded datasets (e.g., xarray, dask, NetCDF/Zarr); equivalent experience in R, MATLAB, NCL, or Julia also considered
• Experience with environmental or numerical tracers, such as stable isotope ratios or other geochemical tracers
• Demonstrated experience with AI/ML emulators or foundation models as applied to Earth system science
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance (see Eligibility requirements below)

Education

Candidates must have received a Ph.D. within the last five years in a STEM field, or will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by commencement of appointment.

Work Environment

Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

LANL postdoctoral researchers start with a minimum annual salary of $99,500. Candidates may be considered for a Director's Fellowship or Chick Keller Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious J. Robert Oppenheimer, Darleane Christian Hoffman, Richard P. Feynman, or Frederick Reines Distinguished Fellowships. For general information about the application processes and LANL fellowships refer to the LANL Postdoctoral Program page.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security.

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call (505)-664-6947.