Postdoctoral Position in Global Internal Wave Modeling – University of Michigan

The Ocean Modeling group in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan is searching for a postdoctoral research fellow to analyze global models of internal waves for applications to ocean mixing and ocean acoustics. The project is funded for three years and is part of a multi-institution Office of Naval Research (ONR) Task Force Ocean (TFO) grant “Modeling, characterizing, and predicting effects of internal gravity waves on acoustic propagation on basin to global scales”. The Michigan TFO grant is in collaboration with complementary grants at Florida State University (FSU), University of Southern Mississippi (USM), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS), and Applied Research in Acoustics LLC (ARiA). Our TFO project is one of many TFO projects funded across many academic, governmental, and private institutions.

Global modeling of internal tides, near-inertial waves, and the internal gravity wave continuum (Garrett-Munk spectrum) is still in its infancy, and applications of such models to ocean acoustics have not been examined. Our TFO project will focus on the impacts of internal waves on basin-to-global scale acoustics. The team includes experts on ocean circulation modeling, ocean internal wave modeling, ocean acoustics, and machine learning. The project is therefore ideal for scientists interested in working across scientific disciplines, and in networking with a large number of scientists across the nation within a highly visible ONR initiative.

A specific focus of the Michigan project is the exploitation of global internal wave models to achieve a better understanding of the spatial geography of oceanic mixing, which has important effects on acoustical motions. A major question of interest is whether the damping of global internal wave models can be improved so that maps of dissipation inferred from the models agree with maps made from fine-structure methods applied to ocean observations. Another important constraint is whether the amplitudes of the modeled waves agree with amplitudes in satellite and in-situ datasets. The successful applicant is expected to work with our colleagues at other institutions to diagnose internal wave dissipation in our models, and improve the internal wave damping with respect to the amplitude and dissipation measurements described above.

The successful candidate should have a PhD in physical oceanography or a related field, and experience with either ocean modeling or analysis of internal waves. Applicants should send a CV, statement of interest, and a list of 3 references to Professor Brian Arbic (arbic@umich.edu). Questions can also be addressed to Professor Arbic. Information about the Department can be found at www.lsa.umich.edu/earth and information about Arbic’s research group can be found at https://arbic.earth.lsa.umich.edu/.

The application deadline is February 28, 2020 for full consideration, but applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The University requires background screening upon acceptance of a contingent job offer which may be conducted by a third party administrator. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

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