Boundary-Layer Physics Parameterization Developer

Job Description

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 Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University is a multi-million-dollar research organization located on CSU’s Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. CIRA is a cooperative institute (CI) that is also a research department within CSU’s College of Engineering, in partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Science. Its vision is to conduct interdisciplinary research in the atmospheric sciences by entraining skills beyond the meteorological disciplines, exploiting advances in engineering and computer science, facilitating transitional activity between pure and applied research, leveraging both national and international resources and partnerships, and assisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CSU, the State of Colorado, and the Nation through the application of our research to areas of societal benefit.

NOAA’s Global Systems Laboratory is a federal science and research laboratory under NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. GSL provides the National Weather Service (NWS) and the nation with environmental observation, prediction, computer, visualization, and information systems. These systems deliver data, forecasts, and predictions of weather, including severe weather events, within the next few minutes to weeks away. GSL is a leader in the applied research, directed development, and technology transfer of environmental data, models, products, and services that enhance environmental understanding with the outcome of supporting commerce, protecting life and property, and promoting a scientifically literate public.

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…