GNSS Postdoctoral Opportunity

Deadline: To receive maximum consideration, applications should be received by April 15, 2016.

The UCAR Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) Program is initiating a postdoctoral fellowship program to support and encourage the advancement and application of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) remote sensing for atmospheric and Earth sciences. GNSS Radio Occultation (RO) is a powerful observational technique with demonstrated impact on space weather, climate, and numerical weather prediction. The upcoming launch of the COSMIC-2 constellation in early 2017 will usher in a new era of RO technology. When compared to existing RO systems, this operational mission will provide improved data quality due to higher signal to noise ratio, multi-GNSS constellation retrievals, deeper penetration into the moist atmospheric boundary layer, and a higher number of occultations per day. The COSMIC-2 mission will extend the existing data record of RO. With more than 10 million neutral atmospheric profiles, and nearly 5 million ionospheric profiles processed from more than 10 satellite missions spanning 20 years, the COSMIC Data Analysis and Archive Center (CDAAC) is recognized as a world leading RO data provider.

This fellowship program is designed to support early career scientists who are interested in GNSS remote sensing and would like to begin their careers working with a group of scientists whose research interests include new retrieval technology, space weather, numerical weather prediction, and weather and climate processes.

Location

All COSMIC fellows will work within the COSMIC program office in Boulder, Colorado. The COSMIC program is one of nine programs within the UCAR Community Programs (UCP) umbrella. Its mission is to develop innovative observational techniques that use signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and to support the application of these techniques in research and operations for the broad Earth Science Community.

Qualifications

A recent Ph.D. or Sc. D. degree granted in an area of research that is related to atmospheric science, climate, space weather, remote sensing, or engineering.

Areas of Research

All COSMIC fellows are expected to pursue a research agenda that includes GNSS radio occultation. Leveraging the unique characteristics of RO by combining with other remote sensing systems is encouraged. Potential topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Numerical Weather Prediction
• Climate
• Space Weather
• Water Cycle
• RO Science
• Improved GNSS and RO retrieval development
• Emerging GNSS research opportunities, including GNSS reflectometry

Deadline: To receive maximum consideration, applications should be received by April 15, 2016.

Application Packages

All applications must include the following elements:

• Statement of research, not to exceed three pages (PDF)
• Curriculum Vita (PDF)
• Transcripts (PDF)
• A list of four references (names and email address) (PDF)

The statement of research is a critical component of the application package. It should contain a clear statement of your research interests and how they would align with the broader mission of the COSMIC program.

Please send all materials to:

COSMIC Postdoctoral Review Committee at cosmic-postdoc@ucar.edu

Appointment Term

The term of the fellowship is expected to be two years. Postdoctoral fellows will undergo comprehensive evaluation after completing the first year of the program.

Salary and Benefits

COSMIC Postdoctoral fellows are employees of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and receive a fixed annual stipend that is competitive with other institutions. Benefits include health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, a TIAA/CREF retirement fund and life insurance. Support for travel and publication charges is available. COSMIC will sponsor a J1 visa for this position. The start date for this appointment is flexible, but expected to be around or after July 2016.

The COSMIC Postdoctoral Fellowship is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Please contact Dr. John Braun, Director of COSMIC Postdoctoral Program at braunj@ucar.edu for any questions related to this announcement. Additional information regarding the COSMIC program, RO science, and application instructions can be found at: www.cosmic.ucar.edu.