Oregon State Postdoctoral Opportunity

MPOWIR Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to Increase Retention; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Oregon is looking for a Research Associate (Postdoctoral) to investigate atmospheric responses to sea surface temperature gradients. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences or Oceanography, have experience with the WRF model, and be proficient in scientific programming languages. This full-time position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge climate research and present findings at national and international scientific meetings.

Qualifications

• Experience with running WRF and familiar with Fortran and a Unix/Linux environment.
• Experience with scientific programming using high-level programming languages.
• Ability to write and communicate scientific results.
• Ability to communicate scientific results clearly.
• Preferred: commitment to diversity.

Responsibilities

• Use WRF model to simulate circulations in response to SST patterns.
• Quantify the atmosphere’s response to SST gradients.
• Prepare new high-resolution SST data sets.
• Develop, debug, and run Fortran 90 codes in Linux; use MATLAB/NCL/Python for analysis.
• Prepare high-resolution SST datasets for WRF boundary conditions.
• Compare simulated winds and clouds with satellite data; apply statistical analyses.

Skills

Running WRF

Scientific programming

Communication of scientific results

Education

PhD in Atmospheric Sciences or Oceanography

Tools

MATLAB

NCL

Fortran

Python

Fortran

Unix/Linux

Job description

Position Announcement – 0006143
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
Research Associate (Postdoctoral)

Overview

Position: The College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (COAS) at Oregon State University announces the availability of a full-time position for a Research Associate (Postdoctoral) to investigate the nearly ubiquitous observed atmospheric response to sea surface temperature (SST) gradients. To date, most research has focused on the surface wind response to SST, but recent work indicates that the atmospheric response to SST extends into the troposphere above the marine boundary layer. In particular, a deep atmospheric response has been found anchored to the warm western boundary currents of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio Current. More subtle, but still well-defined, responses are found over the California Current System. We seek a research colleague who will join a team of researchers using mesoscale atmospheric models to study the response of the three-dimensional tropospheric circulation to SST features of different spatial scales.

Background Information: COAS is one of the world’s leading oceanographic and atmospheric sciences graduate research institutions, with more than 200 faculty and staff members, more than 90 graduate students, and a wide variety of assets including an excellent computing infrastructure, state-of-the-art analytical facilities, and two research vessels.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Use the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) numerical model to simulate three-dimensional circulations in response to observed SST patterns and large-scale wind regimes found over SST anomalies in ocean currents (e.g. the Gulf Stream, the Kuroshio, the Agulhas, and the California Current).
• Quantify the temporal and spatial scale dependence of the atmosphere’s response to SST gradients using observations and WRF simulations.
• Collaborate with team members producing cutting-edge high-resolution SST products.
• Atmospheric simulation of the circulation response to real and idealized SST cases using the WRF model; adapt, debug, compile, and run Fortran 90 codes in a Linux environment; diagnose results with higher-level computing languages such as NCL or Matlab.
• Prepare new high-resolution SST data sets using satellite and in situ data as boundary conditions for WRF; format data for ingestion by the WRF model.
• Verify simulated surface and elevated wind and cloud responses to SST with satellite remote sensing data sets (e.g., QuikSCAT, AMSU, CERES); apply statistical and spectral methods and synthesize results to emphasize physical explanations for the response.
• Present results at national and international scientific meetings; collaborate with scientists within COAS and at other institutions; prepare and publish articles in scientific journals.

Qualifications

• PhD in Atmospheric Sciences, Oceanography or closely related field.
• Experience with running WRF and/or equivalent NWP model in a parallel computing environment, including familiarity with Fortran and a Unix/Linux environment.
• Experience with scientific programming using high-level programming languages such as MATLAB, NCL, IDL, or Python.
• Ability to write and communicate scientific results with peers.
• Preferred: Experience with spatial and temporal statistical techniques for characterizing geophysical flows. A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.

To Apply

To review posting and to apply electronically, go to http://oregonstate.edu/jobs. See posting number 0006143. To review position announcement go to http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/ .

Deadlines

For full consideration, applications must be received by November 28, 2010. Position Closing date: December 31, 2010.

University and Community

OSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer