Postdoctoral Fellow I

Job Description Summary:The Postdoctoral Fellow contributes to ongoing research activities within NCAR’s Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) laboratory related to improving prediction of atmospheric clouds through hybrids of numerical weather prediction (NWP) and machine learning (ML). The Fellow interacts with NCAR scientists, staff, and other postdoctoral fellows to advance the research over the position’s two-year term. The Fellow will be encouraged to present at scientific conferences, publish scientific papers, and pursue professional development activities.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Compensation Range:

Salary: $80,480* 

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role.*

Application Notes

Application Deadline:

• This position will be posted until 11:59 PM MDT, Friday, May 9,2025.

Required application materials: (preferably in PDF Format)

• Resume
• Application Questionnaire (included in application)

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.
Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be
performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

Here is a brief summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

• Conduct independent and collaborative research in machine learning for prediction of the Earth system or its components
• In collaboration with the PANDA-C team in MMM, develop machine-learning techniques that improve 0-12 h predictions of atmospheric cloud relative existing MPAS-JEDI baseline. These techniques may supplement components of MPAS-JEDI, or use MPAS-JEDI outputs and satellite observations as inputs.
• Prepare research results for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Present results at conferences. Assist with project reporting as needed.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:
Education and Experience (Required/Desired):

Ph.D. degree within the last 5 years or expected within the next 6 months in atmospheric science, computer science, statistics, or a related area.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Required/Desired)

REQUIRED

• Demonstrated knowledge of machine learning as applied to prediction of the Earth system or other physical systems
• Skilled in developing and deploying python workflows for machine learning
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a research team.
• Excellent time management and organization skills.
• Demonstrated and effective written and oral communication skills.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Basic knowledge numerical prediction of physical systems, especially numerical weather prediction
• Skill in manipulating and analyzing large remote-sensing datasets, especially those related to the Earth system

Benefits Overview 

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits. In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance,  UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

• Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities

• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one

• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)

• 10 paid holidays

• 10 days of sick leave each year

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave

• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary

• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science  problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

AI Software

ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing the way society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.