Employment & Opportunities

Postdoctoral Position in Paleoclimate Modeling - University at Albany (SUNY)

A fully funded Postdoctoral Position is available in the research group of Prof. Mathias Vuille in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (DAES) at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY).
 
The position is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of a collaborative project focusing on human – environment interactions in MesoAmerica during the Mid-Holocene. The successful applicant will investigate the role of abrupt climate change during the mid-Holocene (3000-6000 years ago) and the extent to which external forcings such as volcanic eruptions or increased dust loads contributed to a three-century drought that began 4200 years ago. The successful applicant is expected to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team and contribute to international outreach and education efforts. More information on our research group is available here.

The successful candidate will have (1) a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (climate dynamics, climate modeling, paleoclimate); (2) experience running numerical models and strong computational, statistical and programming skills; (3) ability to work independently (4); good communication and collaboration skills; (5) willingness to contribute to outreach, student mentoring and educational activities.
 
The Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, is housed in a brand-new state-of-the-art facility.For more information about the Department, please visit our website.

The position is initially for one year, but renewable for an additional 1.5 years. Review of applicants will begin 1. October 2021, but the position will remain open until filled. Preferred start date is January 2022.
 
Interested applicants should send a letter of application, a current CV with list of publications, and the names and contact information of three references to . To be eligible, applicants must have received their doctoral degree within the past 3 years. More information on this position can be obtained by contacting Mathias Vuille, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY (phone: +1 518 442-4472; e-mail: ).

PhD Position in Environmental Fluid Dynamics - University of Pennsylvania

GEFLOW seeks a PhD student interested in studying the dynamics of aquatic environments. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the physical understanding of anthropogenically stressed aquatic systems, such as lakes and nearshore seas.

PhD project

The littoral zones of lakes and seas are buffer regions between terrestrial and pelagic aquatic environments, which render various critical services, such as ecosystems niches, drinkable water, wastewater disposal, recreation, transport, among others. These environments are being widespread threatened by growing human activities; in these regions, substances from the catchment infiltrate the waterbodies and become available for physical and biogeochemical processes. The general goal of this project is to provide a better understanding and characterising the hydrodynamics of littoral environments. More specifically, we look for quantifying the role of nearshore topography and boundary fluxes on the vertical and horizontal transport and effective mixing rates due to mechanically and thermally energised flows. Advancing in the characterisation of the above processes is instrumental for building parameterisations that may allow quantifying the transport and mixing of water's constituents across littoral regions in response to external forcing.

The research project will focus on developing high-fidelity numerical experiments to quantify transport and mixing phenomena in littoral systems. The simulations will explore globally and locally the parameters governing the system's response to atmospheric forcing or spatial boundaries, such as cross-shore transport, effective diffusivities and mixing rates. Ultimately, these relationships will be used to derive scaling laws applicable to natural aquatic systems.

About the candidate

In preference, the candidate should

• hold a bachelor or a master degree in one of the following disciplines: engineering sciences, geophysics, physics, applied mathematics, or closely related fields such as geophysical and environmental fluid dynamics;
• have basic programming skills, experience with numerical modelling and quantitative analysis;
• have good written and verbal communication skills;
• have the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to communicate effectively across disciplines.

Tasks may include:

• Revisit existing literature on the fluid dynamics of littoral zones.
• Design and perform numerical experiments.
• Conduct data post-processing and analysis to quantify transport and mixing quantities associated with nearshore flows.
• Parameterise the relationship between boundary forcing, and topography, and the system’s response.
• Publish peer-reviewed papers in high-quality international journals.
• Participate actively in conferences, specialised meetings, and research group activities.

To apply for this position, please address the criteria listed above in a cover letter and CV. For more information about this position, please contact Dr Hugo N. Ulloa ( ).

About the institution and the team

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader institution in education, research, and innovation. This historic Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and a wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is a great place for work and play.

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Candidates are considered for the position without regard to race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class.

The Geophysical and Environmental Flow Laboratory(GEFLOW) is a new research group at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Driven by real problems associated with the pathway of water in the landscape, GEFLOW's mission is to contribute to a solid comprehension of physical processes in natural waters and their impact on the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. GEFLOWis grounded on fundamental and applied sciences; it combines fluid mechanics principles, laboratory and numerical experiments, and field observations to unravel physics and develop mathematical models that characterise fluid flows in nature.