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CIRES/Kay Research Group Post-Doctoral Associate

Position Number: 6398022
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Physics

CIRES/Kay Research Group Post-Doctoral Associate

Requisition Number: 65964
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 23-Jul-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 focused on Radiation Science. The radiation scientist will conduct research to advance understanding of radiation using numerical models and satellite observations. The primary goal is to use observations from NASA's PREFIRE mission and complementary datasets, physical theory, and numerical models to advance understanding of radiation change and variability. The research will help to distribute, finalize, and use model-observational simulators in COSP (a software package to compare models and observations) to assess model biases and to improve physical process understanding. Assuming these primary research goals are achieved, research can also focus on a range of related radiation science topics that emerge and are mutually agreed upon.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected 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 Kay Group at the University of Colorado at Boulder is a part of CIRES (a research institute) and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences or ATOC (an academic department). Our group's research interests include coupled processes, radiation and energy budgets, clouds and precipitation, surface ocean processes, sea ice, forced climate responses, and internal climate variability. The tools we apply include remote sensing observations, in situ observations, process models, global coupled climate models, instrument simulators, and data assimilation. We bring together all of these tools to advance our scientific research interests.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Conduct original research to advance understanding of recent and projected radiation change using numerical models and satellite observations (50%).
Curate and analyze observations and models in support of satellite missions (20%).
Present research at national meetings (1x year), project meetings (3x year), and group meetings (1x year) (10%).
Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals (at least one paper per year) (10%).
Coordinate with team members at the University of Colorado and on relevant satellite teams (10%).

What You Should Know

This position is offered as a full-time position (40 hours per week). The work should be performed primarily in person within CIRES/ATOC space at the University of Colorado.
This is a term-limited position. The position is offered one year, but may be extended contingent on funding.
The anticipated start date is September 1, 2025.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
The annual hiring salary for this position is $68,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
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.
CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development and a Mentorship Program.

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.

What We Require

PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Atmospheric Science, Physics.
Experience in the analysis of datasets from observations and models, using supercomputing tools and software such as shell scripts, Linux clusters, Python, and MATLAB.
Experience completing independent research on broadband and spectral longwave radiation datasets.
Experience designing and implementing tools to compare spectral radiation with earth system models including COSP.
Experience and success in writing and publishing scientific papers as first-author and as co-author.

What You Will Need

Ability to communicate research results to scientific and general audiences through journal publications, oral and poster presentations, interviews with journalists, and websites.
Knowledge and use of standard processes in scientific data management.
Strong knowledge of supercomputing tools and software such as shell scripts, Linux clusters, Python, and MATLAB.
Strong knowledge of broadband and spectral longwave radiation data products including PREFIRE.
Strong knowledge of earth system models including with satellite simulators enabled.
Strong knowledge of scientific communication in written and oral formats.
Strong knowledge of being an effective team leader and contributing as a team member.

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.

Applications received by July 23, 2025 date will receive full consideration.

Note: For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs. Application materials will not be accepted via email.

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-Kay-Research-Group-Post-Doctoral-Associate/65964