Boundary-Layer Physics Parameterization Developer

Postdoctoral Associate

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) seeks to fill a full-time Postdoctoral Associate position designed to conduct collaborative research and development with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) located at the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) in Boulder, CO. The individual in this position will work in the NOAA/OAR/GSL Earth Prediction Advancement Division (EPAD) Physics Branch.

This Postdoctoral Fellowship is a 12-month appointment with a flexible start date between 1 October 2026 and 31 December 2026, with the option to renew for an additional year contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding. The successful candidate will conduct hypothesis-driven research to improve the physical fidelity, accuracy, and/or efficiency of the MYNN-EDMF planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization, the development of which is led by the GSL EPAD Physics Branch.

A major focus for this position is contributing to the extension of MYNN-EDMF to parameterizing three-dimensional subgrid-scale turbulence for kilometer- and sub-kilometer-scale numerical weather prediction applications. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute new developments that improve the MYNN-EDMF PBL parameterization and/or its integration with other physics parameterizations (e.g., subgrid-scale clouds, cloud microphysics, surface layer, land-surface model, etc.).

This position will report to the CIRA Atmospheric Physics Development and Implementation Scientist.

For full consideration, please apply by Friday, 9/11/2026, 11:59pm (MT).

• Conduct hypothesis-driven, meteorologically informed research to improve the physical fidelity, accuracy, and/or efficiency of planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterizations in numerical weather prediction models, particularly as it relates to storm-scale to sub-kilometer models.
• Collaborate with the lead PBL parameterization developer and other parameterization developers within the branch to inform future development activities.
• Prepare and/or contribute to the preparation of briefing materials and presentations for branch management, internal meetings, conferences, and workshops, and regularly publish scientific content.

• Initially, this position will require onsite presence. If project circumstances allow and with satisfactory performance, up to 2 days per week of telework may be allowed.
• This full-time position requires a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI), tier 1 federal background check and a NOAA Common Access Card (CAC)  for systems access. Therefore, only US citizens and lawful permanent residents with a physical USCIS "Green Card" are eligible.

• A Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or related field completed before the start of the appointment.
• At least two years of experience with numerical weather and/or climate prediction.
• At least two years of experience in Fortran and/or C++, Python, high-performance computing, and Linux computing environments.
• Experience using and/or developing PBL parameterizations in appropriate numerical weather prediction models with a specific focus on understanding and/or improving PBL parameterizations.
• Experience communicating scientific results, such as through conference presentations, seminars, technical reports, and/or publications.

• Experience using relevant observations and/or outputs from numerical weather prediction model simulations to inform PBL parameterization evaluation and/or development.
• Knowledge of synoptic and mesoscale weather and the ability to link PBL processes to weather scenarios.
• Knowledge of existing approaches for parameterizing three-dimensional turbulence for and/or representing urbanization in very-high-resolution numerical weather prediction models.
• Knowledge of appropriate research methods or approaches to investigate improvements in PBL-related predictions, coupling of PBL parameterizations to other model components (e.g., the surface-layer, land-surface, cumulus, and microphysics parameterizations), and verification of boundary-layer fields.
• Knowledge of a variety of PBL processes, parameterization approaches, methods of processing PBL data, and related software tools.

Applications must be submitted via online portal. We will not accept materials sent via email or other mode.

NOTE:

In the body of your resume, please specifically address all required qualifications and applicable preferred qualifications when describing your work experience. A resume that fails to address the qualifications of this position may not be further considered after review by the search committee. Likewise, an online application with a generic cover letter or missing a cover letter may not be further considered after review by the search committee.

References will be requested for finalists and will not be contacted without prior notification of…