Job Details

CIRES/ESOC Post-Doctoral Associate
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Position Number: 5916108
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Geology, Earth Sciences & Oceanography

CIRES/ESOC Post-Doctoral Associate

Requisition Number: 61080
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 10-Jan-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder welcomes applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate in the Earth Science and Observation Center (ESOC). The Post-Doctoral position will undertake geophysical analyses of ice shelf processes, related to (1) deformation of shelf ice and (2) heterogeneous basal melting patterns. The position requires skill in applying and analyzing data from a variety of sources, including satellite imagery, altimetry, stereo-image DEMs, and ice velocity. The position addresses the goals of the two supporting awards, aimed at understanding ongoing processes and evolution of the fringing ice of the Antarctic continent.

Specific skills needed include expertise in QGIS geospatial analysis, ENVI image processing, and finite-element ice modeling. Familiarity with programming and applying Python code and web-available data sets for satellites images, ice velocity, and ice altimetry are required.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At CIRES, more than 950 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The Earth Science and Observation Center within CIRES applies satellite and ground-based geophysical observations to problems with the dynamic Earth system. The Center includes about a dozen active teaching and research faculty and two dozen or so affiliated post-doctoral researchers and graduate students. There is a strong field component to much of the research.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Assesses non-uniform thinning of ice on the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf using ICESat-2 data and field profiles from ground-penetrating radar (35%);
Assembles and processes available optical imagery, combined with ice elevation, ice thickness, and ice flow data, from the McMurdo Ice Shelf rumples area near Scott Base with a view toward eventual modeling of the rumpling (35%);
Continues team activities toward publication of manuscript on Hektoria Glacier's rapid retreat (5%);
Continues team activities toward ogive formation processes, Inc. paper publication (10%);
Continues to advise and assist in analysis of data from Crane Glacier (5%);
Submits abstracts for presentations of current results (coordinated with the research team and collaborators) to appropriate venues such as EGU, WAIS Workshop, and/or Colorado Glaciology meeting, and present (5%);
Performs other duties as necessary (5%).

What You Should Know

Hybrid work modality, full-time (100% FTE), off-campus and on-campus mix on ~bi-monthly cadence. Hybrid work arrangements will follow current CIRES and university guidance and policies.
The position is open-ended, but secure funding is only available for 6 months at this time; additional funding is anticipated, however.
Anticipated start date: 17 February 2025.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
The annual hiring salary for this position is $70,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development and a Mentorship Program.
Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues. Boulder was recently ranked as one of the top places to live in the U.S. by U.S. News.
As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be empowered. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Ph.D. (in hand) in geosciences or related field (physics, meteorology).
Experience with remote sensing and other geophysical data, and the software tools that manipulate them.
Familiarity with polar ice research, particularly Antarctica.

What You Will Need

Knowledge of Landsat, Sentinel, and ICESat + ICESat-2 data and applications.
Strong skills in process remote sensing data using QGIS or ENVI.
Ability to apply finite-element modeling to ice deformation problems.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV.
Cover letter briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
If you are identified as a finalist, the search committee will request one letter recommendation at a later time.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Please apply by January 10, 2025 to be considered for this position.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/CIRES-ESOC-Post-Doctoral-Associate/61080