Postdoctoral position – Los Alamos National Laboratory

Detailed Description:A 2-year postdoctoral researcher position at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Earth and Environmental Science Division, with possibility of extension for a 3rd year depending on available funding and performance. The postdoc will work on a project focused on the role of Arctic deltas in controlling the rate, timing, and magnitude of terrestrial fluxes to the Arctic Ocean. Permafrost thaw, changes in terrestrial hydrology, and sea level rise are all climatically driven changes that will likely affect the role Arctic deltas play in the coming decades. The postdoc is expected to use existing or develop new modeling tools to explore the relative importance of channel networks, deltaic lakes, sea ice, and river hydrology on the delivery of terrestrial fluxes to the coastal ocean. Use of existing deltaic and coastal models, such as Delft3d, will likely be a key component of the project. The exact scope and implementation of the project is flexible based on postdoc expertise and scientific interests. Additional areas of possible research focuses include the role of permafrost thaw on deltaic lake expansion and land subsidence, and the interactions between deltaic outflow and landfast sea ice.This project is an initial effort to incorporate deltaic and coastal dynamics into global and regional climate models. The successful candidate will work closely with ocean modelers to link riverine and ocean biogeochemistry. The project has the potential to expand the research focus to explore innovative modeling approaches to dynamically couple land and ocean models. These opportunities include the use of unstructured grids such as the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS), and the coupling of high-performance computing-based codes to examine physical and biogeochemical interactions across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces.Minimum Job Requirements:Project requires a candidate with strong computational skills. Hydrological and morphodynamic modeling experience, such as Delft3d, is needed. Programming skills in C++, Python, and/or Matlab and IDL are a strong asset. The ability to develop and execute a hypothesis-driven research plan is a must. Requirements also include demonstrated ability to work in a team setting and excellent written and verbal communication skills.Desired Skills:The successful candidate will have demonstrated the following:Scientific excellence as evidenced by submission and publication of authored publications in refereed journals.Prior research experiences in deltaic and coastal systems.Education:A Ph.D. in geomorphology, hydrology, physical oceanography, computational physics, computational geosciences, or closely related fields.Notes to Applicant:In addition to applying online (http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/jobs/index.php, Vacancy Name: IRC46639), please send curriculum vitae, digitized copies of transcripts, names of three references, and a cover letter detailing qualifications and research interests to Joel Rowland at jrowland@lanl.gov. Please include “Arctic Deltas Postdoc” in the email subject line.Job location:Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. LANL enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

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