Postdoctoral Investigator – WHOI

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is currently searching for a Postdoctoral Investigator to join the Physical Oceanography Department. This is a full-time, exempt position, and is eligible for benefits. The initial appointment will be for two years.

We are inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Investigator in Physical Oceanography with a focus on water mass transformation and overturning in the Nordic Seas. The successful candidate will be supervised by Michael Spall to work on an NSF-funded grant, “Evolution of water mass transformation in the western Nordic Seas in a warming climate”. The project will explore the sensitivity of water mass transformation and overturning resulting from the retreating ice edge in the western Nordic Seas. The approach will be primarily numerical using idealized configurations of coupled ocean/atmosphere/seaice models with development of supporting theory. Collaboration with partner scientists in Norway collecting and analyzing field data is also possible.

The institution has a top-rated postdoctoral program (www.whoi.edu/postdoctoral/) that supports a dynamic postdoctoral community with formal mentoring and career guidance programs. While the primary focus of the work will be in research, the Postdoctoral Investigator will have the opportunity to participate in educational and outreach activities associated with the project. Applicants from groups historically underrepresented in oceanography and climate sciences are strongly encouraged to consider this opportunity.

Qualified applicants must apply online. The documents should include a brief cover letter, full CV, and contact information (only) of 3 references. The review of applications will begin as the files are received and continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should contact Michael Spall (mspall@whoi.edu) if they have questions about the position.

Essential Functions

• Strong numerical modeling experience and quantitative skills.
• Expertise ocean dynamics or coupled ocean-atmosphere modeling is preferred but not required.
• Experience with observational analyses of high latitude water masses and boundary currents is also desirable.
• Carry out research related to changes in water mass transformation and overturning resulting from the recent retreat of the ice edge in the western Nordic Seas.
• Focus will be on high resolution, coupled ocean/atmosphere/ice models in idealized configurations.
• Opportunity exists for data analysis in collaboration with partner scientists in Norway.
• Design and run numerical experiments of idealized Nordic Seas under past, present, and future global warming scenarios. Lead analysis of the results, including developing theoretical understanding of the numerical model sensitivities to the changing climate.

Education & Experience

• PhD in Physical Oceanography, Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, or Physics