NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2012

C&GC 2012 Poster

The UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs announces the 2012 recruitment for NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowships. The program pairs recently graduated PhDs with host scientists at U.S. institutions to work in an area of mutual interest. The program aims to create the next generation of climate researchers. It endeavors to attract recent PhDs with research interests in areas relevant to the NOAA climate science and services program (http://www.climate.noaa.gov or http://www.globalchange.gov/).

The NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowships focus on observing, understanding, modeling, and predicting climate variability and change on seasonal and longer time scales. This includes the documentation and analysis of past, current, or possible future climate variability and change and the study of the underlying physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Preference is given to those who have held a PhD for no more than three years. Awardees must change institutions and identify a host, who must be at a US institution. A clearly articulated research proposal is particularly important. A steering committee, broadly representing the areas covered by this program, selects the fellows. Review the online selection criteria used by the steering committee in making the awards.

Advanced contact with a potential host is strongly encouraged. Interested host scientists are required to submit a brief letter of intent to host the fellow and a curriculum vita.  Hosts are expected to mentor the fellow and cover office, computing, laboratory, and field research needs of the fellow as appropriate.

The program offers two-year postdoctoral fellowships, reviewed annually. Fellows receive a fixed annual salary. UCAR benefits include health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, mandatory participation in a retirement fund (TIAA/CREF), and life insurance. A relocation allowance is provided as well as an allowance for scientific travel and other support costs.

How to apply:

2012 C&GC How to Apply

U.S. citizenship is not required to participate in this program, but the selected postdoctoral fellows must be hosted at a U.S. research institution. Appointed scientists are employees of UCAR. The two-year fellowships include a fixed annual salary and benefits: health & dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, mandatory participation in TIAA/CREF retirement fund, and life insurance. A relocation allowance is provided as well as an allowance for travel to scientific conferences and other support costs.

This is a 2-Step application process.

Step 1

Applications must be submitted at UCAR Employment Opportunities. 

You will be asked to provide the following materials for your application, in one PDF document, in the order numbered below. It may be helpful for you to complete these documents prior to using the UCAR Employment Opportunities link above. (Note: UCAR cannot accept *.zip files)

1. Cover letter stating the name of this program.
2. Curriculum vitae including list of publications.
3. Names and addresses of at least four professional references.
4. Ph.D. dissertation abstract, including title.
5. Titled project description, not to exceed five pages including figures and appendices (minimum 12 pt. type size, references excluded). Proposals must describe actual research project. Applicants are encouraged to seek help from mentors in writing the project description.
6. Statement of relevance to the NOAA climate science and services program (one-page limit).  http://climate.noaa.gov

Step 2

Send reference letters to the UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs at vspapply@ucar.edu

• Applicants are responsible for contacting at least four referees to have letters sent to UCAR/VSP by the application deadline. One letter must be from thesis advisor, but not from a potential host, and letters from more than one institution are encouraged. Referees should be directed to the online reference requirements.

Reference letters should be sent electronically, but we will accept hard copies by fax (303) 497-8668. If unable to send electronically, please mail to:

UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA

Interested hosts should send the following materials to the UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs at vspapply@ucar.edu:

• A brief letter of intent to host the fellow
• Curriculum vitae, including publications (two-page limit).
• A list of current and pending research support.

Guidelines for reference letters and hosting letters of intent

• Reference letters should include assessment of the applicant's level of scholarship, including placement in class, scientific potential, and qualifications for postdoctoral research.
• The primary objective of this fellowship program is to grow the pool of scientists needed for a specific objective. Comments regarding the applicant will be treated confidentially and will be used by the steering committee to help determine both strengths and weaknesses of the applicant. Any specific comments regarding the applicant’s ability to work independently, to pursue new topics, and to interact with others are very useful.
• Potential hosting scientists should submit a Letter of Intent to Host the applicant, explaining plans for mentoring. Potential hosts should not provide a letter of reference for the applicant. Letters of Intent should include a CV and a list of current and pending research support.

The program offers two-year postdoctoral fellowships, reviewed annually. Fellows receive a fixed annual salary. UCAR benefits include health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, mandatory participation in a retirement fund (TIAA/CREF), and life insurance. A relocation allowance is provided as well as an allowance for scientific travel and other support costs.

Appointments will be announced in early spring 2012.

Need more information? Call 303-497-8649 or e-mail: vspapply@ucar.edu,