Postdoctoral Scholar in Transdisciplinary Climate Research

Application Instructions

Current Penn State employee (faculty, staff, technical service, or student) must log in to Workday to complete the internal application process. Current Penn State student (not previously employed at the university) seeking employment must log in to Workday to complete the student application process. If you are not a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the external applicant process.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For more information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; the length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation beyond the term will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

Penn State’s Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI, (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) invites applications for multiple postdoctoral scholar positions in quantitative climate research. Successful candidates will join a transdisciplinary research team focused on characterization of weather and climate extremes, risk management, multisector dynamics, and climate data products development. Selected postdoctoral scholars will work primarily on the PCHES-ADAPT project (), which is supported through a 10‑institution cooperative agreement with DOE’s Office of Science.

In addition, they will have the opportunity to engage with the team’s other activities supported by NSF, NOAA (), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (), and Penn State (). The position offers unique opportunities for research, education, outreach, stakeholder engagement, cross‑disciplinary mentoring, and professional development. All postdoctoral appointees at Penn State benefit from extensive career support through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, including mentorship training, individualized career coaching, and career development workshops.

Applicants must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., atmospheric science, oceanography, geography, geosciences, statistics, applied math, engineering, computer science, economics, decision analysis). Competitive candidates will have strong computational and quantitative skills, familiarity with climate datasets, and a clear orientation toward transdisciplinary collaboration. Proficiency in one or more relevant programming languages (e.g., R, Python, NCL, Julia, Fortran) and evidence of effective scholarly communication are essential.

Experience working in a high‑performance Linux cluster computing environment is also desirable.

Applications must be submitted online and should include a cover letter and a curriculum vitae, both submitted as PDF files. The cover letter (maximum 2 pages) should succinctly describe your background and specific interest in this opportunity. The curriculum vitae (also maximum 2 pages) should focus on the elements of your educational record, research experience, technical skills, and scholarly output most relevant to the position.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to include links to examples of relevant prior work in their application materials. Additional supporting materials may be requested from candidates who are selected for further review.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled. For further information about this opportunity, please contact Dr. Robert Nicholas (ren
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Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support personal and professional well‑being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (For postdoctoral benefits, see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging.

We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.