Postdoctoral Position at NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey USA

Analyze Model Output of GFDL's Seasonal to Inter-Annual Climate Prediction System to Develop Ecological Forecasts in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem

The UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs office is recruiting a postdoctoral scientist to work in Princeton at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) as part of a partnership between GFDL and the Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers (NW-SWFSC) in Newport, OR and La Jolla, CA.

The postdoctoral researcher will play a leading role in analyzing model output of GFDL’s seasonal to inter-annual climate prediction system to develop ecological forecasts in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME). The topic will be finalized after initial study of existing model and ecosystem data and could include: prediction of the timing and duration of important seasonal upwelling events and their relationship to commercially and ecologically important fish and crustaceans such as salmon and krill; determine the relationship between longer term climate events such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and anchovy and sardine populations in the Northeastern Pacific. Additional extensions of this work might include assessment of the role of decadal-centennial climate change on fisheries and marine mammal populations, and extension of regional climate-fisheries predictive tools across geographic provinces. The intended postdoctoral researcher would sit primarily at GFDL but is expected to travel periodically to Newport, OR and La Jolla, CA for extended work with NW and SWFSC scientists.

The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for assembling and organizing the relevant data, performing appropriate mathematical and statistical analyses, and must be able to effectively summarize their results in the form of reports, refereed journal publications and/or meeting presentations and seminars.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in biological or physical oceanography, applied ocean sciences, or an equivalent degree, with demonstrated experience in climate dynamics and/or fisheries and integrative research. Successful candidates will be skilled in the use of mathematics and statistics in the analysis of time series data, and have demonstrated experience using common large scale model analysis software (e.g. FERRET, IDL, ncview, Ocean Data View, MATLAB). Candidates should be familiar with general physical and biological oceanographic principles, have the ability to work with teams of scientists from other disciplines, communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, and have published, as the senior author, a minimum of two papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals over the past three years. Term of appointment: One (1) year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year, depending on the availability of funds.

The position is located at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton University Forrestal Campus, New Jersey, and will involve frequent travel to the West Coast to collaborate with ecosystem scientists.
GFDL Supervisor: Dr. John Dunne
Co-Principal Investigators: Vecchi (GFDL), Peterson (NWFSC) and Phinney (SWFSC)

How to apply:

There is no application form. Send the following materials to the UCAR/VSP:

• Cover letter identifying this program
• Curriculum vitae with a list of publications in refereed journals
• Names and addresses of three references. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the references and request that they submit letters in support of your application to VSP.
• PhD thesis abstract for recent PhDs.
• Proposed project description, including a statement of relevance to the GFDL. Proposal must be titled and not exceed three pages, including references and figures.

Application deadline is August 1, 2008. Application review will begin August 1; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Send applications and letters of reference to:

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

You may send all this material electronically. For further information, please call 303-497-8634, send e-mail to: vsp@ucar.edu or visit the VSP website at: www.vsp.ucar.edu

UCAR is an EO/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace.