Postdoctoral Research Associate – Regional Air Quality Modeling and Forecasting

Washington State University; United States; On-site; USD 62,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

Paid vacation leave

Medical insurance

Retirement plan

Deferred compensation

Supplemental retirement accounts

Job summary

Washington State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering invites applications for a 12-month, full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate on the NW-AIRQUEST project. The role centers on supporting AIRPACT, the regional air quality forecast system, and contributing to model development and evaluation on WSU's HPC cluster.

You will join the Air Quality Research Lab led by Dr. Jun Meng, mentoring students and collaborating with state, tribal, and federal agencies.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Meteorology or related field by start date.
• Strong background in atmospheric/air quality modeling with 3D chemical transport models (CMAQ, CAMx, WRF-Chem, GEOS-Chem).
• Experience in high-performance computing (Linux) environments, including shell scripting.
• Strong programming and data analysis skills (Python, Fortran, R).
• Demonstrated scholarly output (peer-reviewed publications).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead research tasks for NW-AIRQUEST and AIRPACT development and evaluation.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the lab.
• Collaborate with consortium members and air quality agencies to advance forecast systems.

Skills

Python

Fortran

R

Linux HPC

Education

Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or related field

Tools

CMAQ

CAMx

WRF-Chem

GEOS-Chem

Job description

Position Details

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Washington State University (WSU) is seeking a qualified applicant for a 12-month, full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position based on the WSU main campus in Pullman, WA. The incumbent will play a central role in the NW-AIRQUEST (Northwest International Air Quality Environmental Science and Technology Consortium) project, supporting the operation, evaluation, and development of AIRPACT (airpact.wsu.edu/), the regional air quality forecast system that provides daily forecasts of pollutant concentrations (PM2.5, O3, SO2, NO2, CO, and PM10) for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and the surrounding region. AIRPACT is built on the WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ modeling framework and runs daily on WSU's high-performance computing system. The work directly supports federal, state, tribal, and local air quality managers in the Pacific Northwest and contributes to protecting public health across the region. The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to demonstrate leadership within the lab, including mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

About the research group

The incumbent will join the Air Quality Research Lab (www.jun-meng.com/) led by Dr. Jun Meng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The group conducts research to enhance understanding of the interrelations between air quality, climate change, and human health, with expertise in atmospheric composition modeling, air quality forecasting, satellite-based PM2.5 estimation, and wildfire smoke and dust aerosols. The lab leads the operation and development of the AIRPACT regional air quality forecast system for the Pacific Northwest. The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Jun Meng and will collaborate closely with NW-AIRQUEST Consortium members, including state, federal, and tribal air quality agencies.

Job Function

Percentage Breakdown of Job Functions: 80% Research 20% Scholarship, Outreach, and Collaboration

Benefits

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation. For information or questions about Benefits, please contact HRS Benefits at 509-335-4521.

• paid sick and vacation leave
• paid holidays
• medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• retirement
• deferred compensation
• optional supplemental retirement accounts

Annual Salary

Annual Salary: $62,232 - $70,000 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range.

Contract

This is a full time (100% FTE), temporary position. This position is overtime eligible. Appointment Duration: This is a temporary position expected to start on October 1, 2026 and end on September 30, 2027. The position is expected to end within one year of starting. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

Postdoctoral Requirements

For detailed information on eligibility for postdoctoral appointments, please visit: WSU/UAW Postdoctoral Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Meteorology, or a related field by the start date.
• Strong background in atmospheric/air quality modeling with 3D chemical transport models (e.g., CMAQ, CAMx, WRF-Chem, GEOS-Chem).
• Experience working in high-performance computing (Linux) environments, including shell scripting.
• Strong programming and data analysis skills (e.g., Python, Fortran, R).
• Demonstrated ability of scholarly output (peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate within a team structure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with the SMOKE emissions processing system and the CMAQ modeling system.
• Background in atmospheric chemistry modeling, including experience with gas-phase chemical mechanisms and/or aerosol chemistry.
• Experience with WRF and meteorological modeling.
• Experience running or maintaining operational/automated forecast systems.
• Experience applying machine learning methods to air quality or geophysical data (e.g., forecast bias correction).
• Experience with model performance evaluation using ground-based and satellite observations.
• Experience with emissions inventories, including point source and fire emissions.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility

May be eligible for work visa sponsorship

Background Check

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Union Representation

This position is represented exclusively by Postdocs United/United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Information regarding the Union and the CBA is available on the WSU Labor Relations website.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities. WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [e-mail].

Non-Discrimination Statement

Notice of Non-Discrimination In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract. Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU's Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

Contact

For questions regarding this position or the application process, please contact Dr. Jun Meng ([e-mail]).