Research Scientist​/Risk

Woodwell Climate Research Center seeks a Research Scientist for its Risk team in Falmouth, MA. This role involves conducting research on climate change impacts related to international security, collaborating with communities and decision-makers, and addressing societal consequences. The position requires expertise in climate perils and involves project management, data analysis, and communication of research findings. The work environment is fast-paced and collaborative.
Position: Research Scientist (Risk)
Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis. Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary/Objective:

Join the Risk team as a Research Scientist to conduct original research on near-term future impacts on risks at the intersection of climate change and international security. Work alongside impacted communities, where physical climate risk meets climate resilience. Develop bespoke assessments with thoughtful narratives for future climate change risks. Collaborate with our partners to understand potential downstream societal consequences. Explicitly address impacts on human systems and the built environment, including health and well-being, food security, water resources, infrastructure and economic stability.

The work of the Risk Program is fast paced and variable, every week will bring a new challenge, you will do academic-grade work at corporate pace. Responsibilities include but not limited:

Work with decision-makers with opportunities to engage a range of external partners: national security think tanks, community leaders, businesses, asset management companies, environmental non-governmental organizations

Use domain knowledge expertise to enhance Woodwell Climate's current analytical bandwidth across a broad and growing catalog of climate perils: flood to famines, hurricanes to heat stress, and sea level rise to severe wildfire risk Present details and the consequences to policymakers, the public and in academic journals

Successfully manage multiple projects and motivation to apply their academic and professional experience to help fight climate change

Research and model past, present and future physical and societal climate change impacts

Process and analyze multi-temporal geospatial data, primarily climate model output and observations

Communicate research results to policymakers and the public, including publication in peer-reviewed literature and elsewhere

Selects or assists in the selection of research topics or supports a program working under the direction of a supervisor

Assumes project management responsibilities delegated by their supervisor

May lead proposals and be a co-lead on a proposal

Research Assistant selects or assists in the selection of research topics or supports the Risk program working under the direction of a supervisor or PI and contributes to the direction of the program.

Work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, cross-disciplinary environment to analyze, synthesize, and present results.

Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Domain knowledge and expertise with multiple climate perils: flood to famines, hurricanes to heat stress, and sea level rise to severe wildfire risk Advanced programming skills based on practical experience with high-level language and tools such as Python, R, Julia, MATLAB, and/or CDOManage large (terabyte scale) data volumes for analysis and visualization in a Linux environment

Highly motivated and self-directed in advancing complex projects and a record of successful research

Familiarity with the scope of climate science literature and the ability to clearly and succinctly bring it to an informed audience.

A the results (netCDF data format) of global and regional climate models

Training or experience in Earth system modeling

Experience with cloud technologies and platforms as well as AI and workflow automation

Experience using Google Earth Engine Familiarity with downscaling and bias correction techniques

Ability to work in a collaborative environment with minimal supervision and provide mentorship to others as required

Lead a research project and independently develop new directions

Experience or interest in national security, geopolitics, and/or military security is highly desirable

Experience or interest in interacting with stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, community members, natural resource managers) is highly preferred

Experience or interest in data science and very large-scale data mining and analysis (e.g., modeling of structured data, statistical computation, applied machine learning) preferred

Experience with collaborative code development and system scripting and familiarity with version control

Qualifications:

Environmental Data Science, Earth System Science, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Climate Science, Computer Science, related discipline or equivalent2+ years experience and an established record of successful original research

Physical…