Postdoctoral Scholar in Transdisciplinary Climate Research

Application Instructions

Current Penn State employee (faculty, staff, technical service, or student): log in to Workday to complete the internal application process. Do not apply here.

Current Penn State student (not previously employed, seeking employment): log in to Workday to complete the student application process. Do not apply here.

All other applicants: click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Penn State’s Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI) invites applications for multiple Postdoctoral Scholar positions in quantitative climate research. Successful candidates will join a transdisciplinary research team with interests in 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, supported through a 10‑institution cooperative agreement with DOE’s Office of Science.

They will also engage with other team activities supported by NSF, NOAA, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The position offers opportunities for research, education, outreach, stakeholder engagement, cross‑disciplinary mentoring, and professional development. All postdoctoral appointees benefit from extensive career support through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, including mentorship training, individualized career coaching, and career development workshops.

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.

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, etc.) prior to the appointment start date. Competitive candidates will have strong computational and quantitative skills, familiarity with climate datasets, and an orientation toward transdisciplinary collaboration. Proficiency in one or more relevant programming languages (R, Python, NCL, Julia, Fortran) and evidence of effective scholarly communication are essential.

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

Applications must be submitted online and include a cover letter and a curriculum vitae, each as a PDF file. The cover letter (maximum 2 pages) should succinctly describe your background and specific interest in this opportunity. The curriculum vitae (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. Additional supporting materials may be requested from candidates selected for further review.

Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled.

For further information, please contact Dr. Robert Nicholas (ren
10).

Employment 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 both personal and professional well‑being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (

Note:

For Postdoctoral benefits, please 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.

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