Post Doc Res Assoc or Research Scientist Associate - Atmospheric Science

Job Description

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Why Choose Us?

At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include:

• Generous Retirement Contributions : The State contributes 14.94% of your gross salary, and you contribute 3.68%, totaling 18.62% toward your retirement plan.
• Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage : Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.
• Paid Time Off : Benefit from ample sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
• Tuition Waiver : Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs : Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.

At the University of Wyoming , we're committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW's Benefits Summary.

JOB TITLE:

Post Doctoral Research Scientist or Associate Research Scientist

JOB PURPOSE:

The University of Wyoming department of Atmospheric Science is seeking to fill two postdoctoral/associate research science positions in one of the following fields: Aerosol cloud interactions, cloud radiative effect and cloud feedback, atmospheric chemistry,extreme weather events, or planning observational deployments. The hired candidate will join an existing team to work on the on the Perturbed parameter ensemble Regression Optimization Center for Earth system model Evaluation and Development PROCEED; project. PROCEED is a Department of Energy (DOE) supported initiative at the University of Wyoming and University of Hawaii at Manoa focused on reducing uncertainty in Earth System Model (ESM) predictions at the seasonal to decadal scale. Earth System Models need to be able to predict environmental change decades into the future at a global scale, but many of the processes that dominate prediction uncertainty operate at a scale of micrometers and seconds, like chemistry, aerosols, clouds, and precipitation. To tackle this problem, we have to develop parameterizations to represent these phenomena within global models. PROCEED leverages the University of Wyoming allocation on the NCAR-Wyoming supercomputer Derecho ( to probe uncertainty from parameterized processes in the DOE Energy Exascale ESM (E3SM). Using state-of-the-art, process-level constraint from the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program, PROCEED will work with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the UW School of Computing to better understand the Earth system and improve seasonal-to-decadal predictability. Within this collaboration, University of Wyoming is focusing on developing novel perturbed process ensembles (PPEs) in E3SM while University of Hawaii at Manoa uses large eddy simulations to better understand how ARM observations can be used to confront, constrain, and understand global environmental predictability in E3SM.

University of Wyoming seeks to fill two positions. Positions will be at the postdoctoral level or associate research scientist level, depending on experience. Candidates should have a doctoral degree in atmospheric science or a closely-related field. Research scientists will be expected to conduct research at a higher level of independence and contribute significantly to the development of the project. PROCEED focuses on research in the following areas, with successful candidates having experience and publications relevant to one or more of the areas:
• Aerosol-cloud interactions
• Cloud radiative effect and cloud feedback
• Atmospheric chemistry (with a focus on oxidation)
• High-impact events such as, but not limited to, drought and rainfall
• Planning observational deployments including surface sites (i.e., ARM mobile facilities including ship observations) and aircraft

Successful candidates should have some experience with ESMs, analysis of large volumes of data, observations relevant to ARM, and high performance computing. Core components of duties for this position are leading (writing) peer-reviewed publications creating data sets for community use, and coordinating with university and national lab collaborators. This position will be part of the first of two 2-year renewals of PROCEED.

Candidates will join a lively research effort of 3 research scientists and 2 graduate students and a collegial department of 7 faculty, ~25 graduate students, 6 postdoctoral scholars, 7 research scientists, and 7 engineers/technicians. In addition to access to the flagship National Science Foundation (NSF) supercomputer, the University of Wyoming Atmospheric Science Department hosts one of three aircraft in the NSF Lower Atmosphere Observing Facility (LAOF; giving candidates the chance to learn from world-leading observational scientists.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Publish in peer reviewed journals.
• Present results at nationally/internationally recognized conferences.
• Create, share, and archive reproducible and robust code.
• Participate in group activities.
• Collaborate with other researchers.
• Contribute to writing proposals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS [Postdoctoral Scholar]:

• A Doctoral Degree is required for this position, however, consideration will be given to applicants that are currently pursuing their Doctoral Degree and will complete the degree prior to starting work.
• A publication in the peer-reviewed literature relevant to one of the focus areas listed above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS [Associate Research Scientist]:

• A MS Degree is required for this position, however, consideration will be given to applicants that are currently pursuing their degree and will complete the degree prior to starting work.
• Four publications in the peer-reviewed literature relevant to one of the focus areas listed above.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS [Postdoctoral Scholar]:

• Strong programming skills (knowledge of Python preferred).
• Basic knowledge of machine learning.
• Proficient oral and written English communication skills.
• Ability to write high-quality peer-reviewed publications.
• Highly driven and self-motivated individuals.
• Experience with Earth System Models.
• Experience with observations of the atmosphere that are relevant to ARM.
• Record of research (as expressed by publications) in one or more of the PROCEED focus areas listed above.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS [Associate Research Scientist]:

• Strong programming skills (knowledge of Python preferred).
• Basic knowledge of machine learning.
• Proficient oral and written English communication skills.
• Ability to write high-quality peer-reviewed publications.
• Highly driven and self-motivated individuals.
• Experience with Earth System Models.
• Experience with observations of the atmosphere that are relevant to ARM.
• Record of research (as expressed by publications) in one or more of the PROCEED focus areas listed above.
• Postdoctoral research experience.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Applications must include:
• Cover letter, including a summary of past research accomplishments explaining why
applicants are qualified for and are interested in this position, and a description of future
research interests. Please include contact information for at least 3 references.
• CV, including scientific achievements, list of publications, and coding skills.

Letters of recommendation may be confidentially requested for candidates under consideration.

Please send any additional application materials to [email protected], and a recruiter will
manually add them to your application packet. To help us process your application more
efficiently, please include the 6-digit job ID number (located at the bottom of the job posting) in your email.

Due to a current system limitation, you may only be prompted to upload your resume/CV and a Cover Letter. To ensure your application is complete, we recommend you put all of your application materials into one file with your cover letter. However, if you're experiencing any issues in doing so, please send any additional application materials to [email protected], and a recruiter will manually add them to your application packet. To help us process your application more efficiently, please include the 6-digit job ID number (located at the bottom of the job posting) in your email.

This position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by 12/17/2025 will receive full consideration.

For further information, please contact Profs. Daniel McCoy ([email protected]) and Dana Caulton ([email protected]).

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS :

Work authorization sponsorship may be available for this position, conditioned on the non-applicability of the fees implemented in 90 FR 46027 to the visa petition.

WORK LOCATION:

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work on campus.

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email [email protected].

ABOUT LARAMIE:

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie, by visiting the About Laramie website.

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado's Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie's beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit