Post Doctoral Scholar

Job Title:Post Doctoral Scholar
Department:Arts and Sciences | Earth Sciences

The School of Earth Sciences is seeking applicants for a Post Doctoral Scholar to work with Prof. Lonnie G. Thompson and the ice core paleoclimatology group. The scholar will contribute to projects focused on the analysis and interpretation of ice core records recovered from the tropical Peruvian Andes, with an emphasis on microparticle concentration, size distribution, and dust mineralogy.

The Post Doctoral Scholar will undertake an independent research program aimed at determining how dust has varied and influenced climate over the past 30,000 years, using the Huascaran ice cores (Peru) as the primary archive. Responsibilities include conducting laboratory analyses to identify and source dust variations in the Huascaran cores; leading the preparation of manuscripts for submission to peer‑reviewed journals; and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. Additional duties include contributing to paleoclimate ice core group activities and participating in scientific meetings such as American Geophysical Union (AGU) and Geological Society of America (GSA).

Qualifications:

A PhD in Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, or a related field is required by the time of hire. The ideal candidate will have a strong theoretical or practical background in ice core or closely related research, with specific experience analyzing tropical or low‑latitude ice core records. Applicants should be proficient in the analysis and interpretation of ice‑core microparticle concentration, size distribution, and mineralogical data.

Required qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive system (EDS) instrumentation, preferably including a Quattro Environmental SEM equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) Octane Elect EDS detector
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A collaborative approach to research and mentoring
• A strong record of writing and publishing scholarly work in peer‑reviewed journals, with the expectation of continued publication as a Post Doctoral Scholar

Desired skills and techniques:

• Electron microscopy
• Computational programming (e.g., Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB), Python, Julia)
• Machine learning approaches
• Radiative transfer modeling (e.g., Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiative (SNICAR) Model
• Geospatial analysis (e.g., Google Earth Engine, GIS software (QGIS)

These required and desired skills should be demonstrated through a strong record of peer‑reviewed publications. Qualified applicants with an established publication history are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Information:

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest college and the academic heart of the university. The College hosts 81 majors. With 38 departments, 20+ world-class research centers, and more than 2,000 faculty and staff members, students have the unique opportunity to study with the best artists, scholars, and scientists in their field.

Location:Scott Hall (0310)
Position Type:Term (Fixed Term)
Scheduled Hours:40
Shift:First Shift