Salary Range

Colorado State University - Pueblo; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) seeks a full-time research associate to conduct collaborative research with NOAA at the Global Systems Laboratory in Boulder, CO. The position centers on designing and evaluating real-time and retrospective MPAS-based weather and Earth system prediction experiments.

You will work with model developers, interpret results, and translate findings into priorities for physics and model development, with potential

Qualifications

• PhD in Atmospheric Science or related field, or MS with 2+ years post-MS experience.
• BS with 5+ years post-BS experience in Atmospheric Science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Designs, conducts, and evaluates hypothesis-driven experiments to quantify forecast errors in regional and global systems.
• Leading planning, maintenance, and execution of real-time and retrospective forecast systems.
• Provides scientific feedback to inform development activities and priorities.
• Serves as SME on observations to inform model development and verification.
• Formulates, executes and tracks priorities for physics and model development.
• Prepares briefing materials and publications for internal and external audiences.

Skills

Fortran

C++

Python

HPC

Linux

Communication

Education

PhD in Atmospheric Science

MS in Atmospheric Science

BS in Atmospheric Science

Tools

Noaa/EPAD tools

Job description

Job Description

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) atColorado State University (CSU) seeks to fill a full-time researchassociate position designed to conduct collaborative research anddevelopment with the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration (NOAA) located at the Global Systems Laboratory(GSL) in Boulder, CO. The individual in this position will work inthe NOAA/OAR/GSL Earth Prediction Advancement Division (EPAD)Physics Branch.

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere atColorado State University is a multi-million-dollar researchorganization located on CSU's Foothills Campus in Fort Collins,Colorado. CIRA is a cooperative institute that is also a researchdepartment within CSU's College of Engineering, in partnership withthe Department of Atmospheric Science. Its vision is to conductinterdisciplinary research in the atmospheric sciences byentraining skills beyond the meteorological disciplines, exploitingadvances in engineering and computer science, facilitatingtransitional activity between pure and applied research, leveragingboth national and international resources and partnerships, andassisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CSU,the State of Colorado, and the Nation through the application ofour research to areas of societal benefit.

NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory is a federal science and researchlaboratory under NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.GSL provides the National Weather Service (NWS) and the nation withenvironmental observation, prediction, computer, visualization, andinformation systems. These systems deliver data, forecasts, andpredictions of weather, including severe weather events, within thenext few minutes to weeks away. GSL is a leader in the appliedresearch, directed development, and technology transfer ofenvironmental data, models, products, and services that enhanceenvironmental understanding with the outcome of supportingcommerce, protecting life and property, and promoting ascientifically literate public.

Position Summary

The individual in this position will lead the design and evaluationof output from real-time and retrospective, hypothesis-drivennumerical weather and Earth system prediction model experiments.The outcomes of these experiments will be used to informdevelopments necessary to improve the forecast skill and physicalfidelity of the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS)-basednumerical weather and Earth system prediction models developed byGSL, including regional forecast systems such as NOAA’s RapidRefresh Forecast System and future global forecast systems. Theindividual in this position will work closely with model developerson designing appropriate experiments, interpreting results, andtranslating results into scientific feedback to inform modeldevelopment priorities. This position will report to the EnsemblePrediction Scientist.

Full Consideration Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 11:59pm(MT).

Essential Job Duties

• In collaboration with model developers, designs, conducts, andevaluates hypothesis-driven experiments to quantify forecast errorsin regional and global, deterministic and ensemble, physics-basedand data-driven weather forecast systems and/or test and evaluateimprovements proposed to reduce those errors.
• Contributes to leading the planning, maintenance, and executionof real-time and retrospective regional and global deterministicand ensemble forecast systems.
• Provides scientific feedback to inform current and futuredevelopment activities.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert on routine and field-campaignobservations from in situ and remotely sensed platforms to informmodel development and verification.
• Contributes to formulating, executing, and tracking prioritiesfor physics and model development for regional and globaldeterministic and ensemble forecast systems.
• Prepares briefing materials and presentations for branchmanagement, internal meetings, conferences, and workshops, andregularly publishes scientific content.

Conditions of Employment

• While an onsite presence at GSL in Boulder, CO, is preferred,remote work options will be considered. If onsite, if projectcircumstances allow and with satisfactory performance, up to 2 daysper week of telework may be allowed.
• This full-time position requires a National Agency Check withInquiries (NACI), tier 1 federal background check and a NOAA CommonAccess Card (CAC) ID badge for systems access. Therefore, only UScitizens and lawful permanent residents with a physical USCIS“Green Card” are eligible.

Supervision

• The individual in this position may eventually supervise up totwo employees, as the project expands and funding ismaintained.

Required Qualifications

NOTE: In the body of your resume, please specifically address allrequired qualifications when describing your work experience. Aresume that fails to specifically address the qualifications ofthis position may not be further considered by the search committee.

Education requirements :

• A Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or related field; or
• A M.S. in Atmospheric Science or related field and

• at least two years of relevant post-M.S. experience; or
• A B.S. in Atmospheric Science or related field and
• at least five years of relevant post-B.S. experience

Other Requirements :

• At least two years of experience in numerical weatherprediction testing, evaluation, and verification, includingplanning, coordinating, managing, and executing numerical weatherprediction model experiments.
• At least two years of experience in Fortran and/or C++, Python,high-performance computing, and Linux computing environments.
• Experience communicating scientific results, such as throughconference presentations, seminars, technical reports, and/orpublications.

Preferred Qualifications

NOTE: In the body of your resume, please specifically address allapplicable preferred qualifications when describing your workexperience. A resume that fails to specifically address thequalifications of this position may not be further considered afterreview by the search committee.

• Experience running and evaluating the output from numericalweather prediction models to test scientific hypotheses.
• Knowledge of state-of-the-art regional and/or global numericalweather prediction models.
• Knowledge of deterministic and/or ensemble forecast systemverification techniques.
• Knowledge of ensemble forecast system design andverification.
• Knowledge of the availability and strengths/weaknesses ofobservations from in situ and/or remotely sensed platforms as itrelates to numerical weather prediction model development andevaluation.

Salary Range

$90,000 - $105,000 commensurate with experienceand qualifications.

Employee Benefits

• Review our detailed benefits information here.
• Explorethe additional perks of working at CSU here.
• For thetotal value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use ourcompensation calculator.
• Lastly,click here for more information about why Fort Collins isconsistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work,and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers andstudents. To support this environment and comply with applicablelaws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for thefinalist before a final offer. The type of background checkconducted varies by position and can include, but is not limitedto, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history,financial history, and/or education verification. Background checkswill also be conducted when required by law or contract and when,in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudentto do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employmentopportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibitsdiscrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race,color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status,genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, genderidentity or expression, or any other characteristic protected byfederal, state or local laws.