Coupled Social-Climate Scenarios Postdoctoral Fellow

CSU Spur is seeking a Coupled Social-Climate Scenarios Postdoctoral Fellow in Fort Collins, CO. This in-office position involves conducting research on the societal and physical impacts of climate change and intervention strategies. The role offers a competitive salary of $63,000 to $70,000, benefits, and the opportunity to work with a collaborative team in a leading research environment. The position starts on 11/01/2024 and ends on 10/31/2026.
Posting Details

Posting Detail Information

Working Title Coupled Social-Climate Scenarios Postdoctoral Fellow Position Location Fort Collins, CO Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person Research Professional Position Yes Posting Number 202401678AP Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional Classification Title Postdoctoral Fellows Number of Vacancies 1 Work Hours/Week 40 Proposed Annual Salary Range $63,000 - $70,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications Employee Benefits

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Desired Start Date 11/01/2024 Position End Date (if temporary) 10/31/2026 To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 10/15/2024 Description of Work Unit

Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.

The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University is a large academic and research department in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. We currently have 23 faculty members, eighty graduate students, over seventy full-time researchers and postdoctoral fellows, and an outstanding and dedicated support staff, that comprise one of the most research-active units at the university. The department conducts more than $14M in externally sponsored research each year and is nationally ranked near the top of its field.

The Barnes, Keys, and Hurrell Research Groups are comprised of highly motivated researchers passionate about climate variability, climate and societal change, and the data analysis tools used to understand them. Areas of active research include questions around the impacts of various climate mitigation and intervention strategies, earth system predictability across timescales, Anthropocene dynamics and change, high-resolution regional climate modeling, climate dynamics, climate change and sustainability, and explainable/interpretable AI for earth system research.

Position Summary

The postdoctoral researcher will work with the Barnes, Keys, and Hurrell research teams to conduct independent and collaborative research related to the physical and societal impacts of various climate change and proposed climate intervention strategies by developing novel scenarios of the coupled human-Earth system. This individual will help define the research and development direction of the research team in climate futures of the next 30 years, as well as participate in opportunities to apply earth system expertise to research efforts in other disciplines across and beyond the CSU campus.

This is an exciting, high-impact position at the forefront of climate science for coupled human-Earth system research and will provide exceptional opportunities for a motivated researcher to push the boundaries of current understanding. The postdoctoral researcher will interact with and support graduate students and early career researchers, especially from the Barnes, Keys, and Hurrell research groups, but also other research groups across the Atmospheric Science Department and Colorado State University.

This individual will report directly to Professor Patrick Keys and will be a part of a vibrant community of researchers within the Barnes, Keys, and Hurrell groups, the Atmospheric Science Department, Colorado State University, and other funded collaborators.

Required Job Qualifications
• A Ph.D. in an earth science field (e.g., climate science, atmospheric science) or Ph.D. in a relevant field with research experience in the earth sciences
• Demonstrated experience working with climate change data
• Demonstrated experience in scenario research
• Demonstrated experience working both independently and collaboratively, as well as in an interdisciplinary environment
• Demonstrated experience writing and publishing scientific results in leading journals
• Publication record of conducting high-quality independent and collaborative research, commensurate with experience
• Strong written communication skills, and
• Strong oral communication skills
• A desire and ability to work with graduate students in a team setting.

Preferred Job Qualifications
• Demonstrated research experience on the topic of climate intervention
• Familiarity and/or experience working with climate change scenario development
• Familiarity and/or experience working with diverse research teams

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category Research and Analysis Duty/Responsibility

This individual is responsible for the following duties as part of the research and analysis function:
• Serve as a prominent researcher within the Barnes, Keys, and Hurrell groups by conducting substantive scholarly research at the intersection of climate and societal change.
• Explore, develop and utilize novel scenario approaches with climate model output and observations to better understand and predict the changing Earth system.
• Develop solutions to complex problems, understand the results, and recommend research strategies.
• Solve research questions by incorporating relevant new ideas, techniques and developments
• Interact with members of the research group(s) and relevant collaborators by supporting their research.
• The postdoctoral scientist must have a record of conducting high-quality independent and collaborative research.
• Work with graduate students in a team setting. This will include mentoring, as appropriate, processing and analyzing observed and model generated climate data, and collaboratively working on scenario-based simulation of climate and societal change.

Percentage Of Time 70% Job Duty Category Publication and Presentation Duty/Responsibility

This individual is responsible for the following duties as part of the research publication and presentation of research results:
• Publish research findings in pre-prints, journal articles, and project reports.
• Prepare and present the research results at relevant meetings, conferences and seminars.
• Communicate findings to the broader public through social media, interviews, podcasts, etc. when relevant.
• Review proposals and research papers for agencies and journals. Specifically, this category involves:
• Determining the concept for publications of research results.
• Preparation of manuscripts and scientific graphics for publications and sponsor reports.
• Selecting research results, preparing, and giving presentations at relevant conferences. and seminars and sharing with the public when relevant.

Percentage Of Time 20% Job Duty Category Career Planning and Development Duty/Responsibility

This individual will have the opportunity to actively develop and plan for their career, via additional service and mentoring opportunities. Professional development opportunities will be provided to the postdoctoral researcher by their supervisor(s) based on their career plans and goals.
• Career planning and development
• Mentoring of graduate students and summer interns

Percentage Of Time 10%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
• For full consideration, please upload your resume/CV, cover letter, and the contact information for three professional references by 11:59 PM (MST) on 10/15/2024.
• Cover Letter must state interest and address required and preferred job qualifications (up to two pages).
• References will be contacted at a later date. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
• This posting will remain open until filled, however for full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 PM (MST) on 10/15/2024.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires) Search Contact Pat Keys; pkeys@colostate.edu EEO

Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.

The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu.

The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.

The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.

Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

References Requested

References Requested

Minimum Requested 3 Maximum Requested 3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents
• Cover Letter
• Resume or CV

Optional Documents