Postdoc - Los Alamos National Laboratory

Postdoc in Fully Coupled Wave-Sea Ice Modeling in the Earth System

We seek a postdoctoral scientist with a background in physics, mathematics, oceanic, cryospheric, atmospheric or planetary sciences to couple a sea ice model to the oceanic wave component of the new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM). The position will be focused on studying the consequences of wave-ice coupling on polar weather, global climate and coastal environments. This will include quantifying the potential increase in wave activity along Arctic coasts resulting from a diminishing perennial sea ice cover. The successful applicant will work with mentors specializing in high-resolution coupled earth system modeling, and will involve simulating global atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere feedbacks from surface marine waves that attenuate in ice-covered seas. The tools to be used in this project include a state-of-the-art, community-developed wave model that is embedded in E3SM, and the effect of oceanic waves on the sea ice floe size and thickness distributions will be simulated using "Icepack", the CICE Consortium saline ice physics package.

This position forms an integral part of a new DOE Interdisciplinary Research for Arctic Coastal Environments (InteRFACE) program, and the successful candidate will also work in close collaboration with scientists who are part of a parallel E3SM Coastal Waves project. The postdoctoral researcher will be encouraged to build an independent scientific career through lead authorship of peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences and workshops, and proactive participation in the international geoscience community. The postdoc will be guided in coupled sea ice modeling using some of the world's most advanced computing facilities andwill be encouraged to develop expertise in new analysis methods, including machine learning, to take advantage of new observational datasets such as from ICESat-2 and in-situ polar measurements. The research may also inform observational system design for remote marine regions.

Who you will work with:

This postdoctoral position is within the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Theoretical Division (T-Division). LANL is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in science and engineering on behalf of national security, and includes a vibrant research team developing advanced ocean, ice and terrestrial models for the study of the earth as a complex adaptive system, including interactions leading to climate change. The laboratory's earth system science area currently has more than 15 postdoctoral researcers and a staff exceeding 30 scientists spanning multiple laboratory divisions. The postdoctoral scientist selected for this position will be based inT-Division Fluid Dynamics and Solid Mechanics, working with staff scientists including Andrew Roberts, Phillip Wolfram, and Elizabeth Hunke.

Desired Skills:

• A demonstrated ability to disseminate your research through written and oral communication.
• Previous sea ice or wave modeling could be an advantage, but we are equally as interested in an enthusiastic and creative applicant shifting from a different computational physics area.
• Expertise in current or emerging computer programming languages compatible with high-performance computing (e.g. Fortran90, C, C++, Julia); expertise in scripting or data-analysis languages (e.g. Unix scripting, Python, MATLAB, R).

Required Education:

A Ph.D. in the fields of geophysics, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, oceanic, cryospheric, atmospheric or planetary modeling, physics, or applied mathematics.

Notes to Applicants:

Please include with your application a curriculum vitae, names of three references, and a cover letter detailing qualifications and research interests that are specific to the job requirements outlined in this advertisement. Particularly strong candidates may be eligible for a LANL fellowship.

No Clearance Required : Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

Candidates may be considered for a Director's Postdoc Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious Richard P. Feynman, Darleane Christian Hoffman, J. Robert Oppenheimer, or Frederick Reines Distinguished Postdoc Fellowships.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regards to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful mountainous northern New Mexico, LANL solves problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security.

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