Ocean Modeling Postdoctoral Associate | Los Alamos, NM | Los Alamos National Laboratory

Ocean Modeling Postdoctoral Associate

What You Will Do

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking candidates for a postdoctoral appointment in the field of ocean and climate modeling, with a specific focus on water mass transformation and the mechanisms driving the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This position is part of a new multi-institution project (ImPACTS: Improving Projections of AMOC and Collapse Through advanced Simulations) investigating the physical processes governing the stability of the AMOC and aiming to reduce climate model biases using novel analysis techniques. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with world-leading experts in the fields of Physical Oceanography, Machine Learning, and Computational Science. Candidates with experience in modeling and analyzing ocean or climate processes, or with interest in applying Machine Learning techniques to climate analysis, are especially encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant will be expected to produce and analyze global climate simulations with the US DOE's new climate model E3SM, publish results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, and present research work at conferences. The selected candidate will be based at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM, and work with collaborators at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, CA. The term of the appointment is two (2) years, with the option to extend to a third year depending on performance and funding availability.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:
  • A Ph.D. in applied mathematics, computational science, physics, earth sciences, fluid dynamics, climate modeling, engineering, geophysics, or a closely related field.
  • Record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Willingness to work productively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Education/Experience: Ph.D. in a STEM field. Candidates are typically eligible to apply for a LANL postdoctoral position within five years of receiving their Ph.D., and will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by commencement of appointment. Requests for exceptions to the five-year eligibility requirement will be considered.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience with programming languages such as Fortran, C/C++, or Python.
  • Understanding of ocean physics, large-scale ocean circulation, and / or climate.
  • Experience working in large-scale, parallel computing environments.

Location: This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM.

Note to Applicants:

Please address any questions about the position to Dr. Barthel (abarthel@lanl.gov) and Dr. Van Roekel (lvanroekel@lanl.gov). The application package consists of a CV, digitized copies of transcripts, and a cover letter. Your cover letter should explicitly address how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired skills, if applicable. Anyone who meets the minimum requirements is encouraged to apply. In addition to applying online, please send your application package to Dr. Barthel (abarthel@lanl.gov), including "Ocean Modeling Postdoc" in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed starting on January 16, 2023 and considered until the position is filled.

Exceptional candidates may be considered for a Director's Fellowship or a Distinguished (Feynman/Oppenheimer) Postdoctoral Fellowship. For general information about the application processes and LANL fellowships refer to the LANL Postdoctoral Program page.
Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network

§ Dental and vision insurance

§ Free basic life and disability insurance

§ Paid childbirth and parental leave

§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)

§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance

§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)

§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs

§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: 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 regard 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.Employment StatusFull Time