Areas of Intereset: Research
Functional Areas: Research Institutes and Labs
Department: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
Requisition Number: 13029
Location: College Park, Maryland
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full-Time


Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Professional Research Assistant to provide scientific and meteorological expertise, technical and project management support for the NOAA Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT), which is jointly organized by the NWS/Weather Prediction Center (WPC) and the OAR/Earth Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL). The position will be based at the WPC in College Park, Maryland, within the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP). The NCWCP is a highly collaborative environment containing several NOAA organizations, including the Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) and Climate Prediction Center (CPC). The incumbent will interact with HMT staff, NOAA scientists and forecasters, and externally funded researchers to facilitate the transition of new science to NWS forecast operations for hazardous weather. Areas of particular need and interest to be addressed include the forecasting of heavy precipitation associated with land-falling tropical cyclones, warm-season convection, winter storms, and atmospheric rivers. Additional areas of focus include the use of ensemble model output and forecaster generation of probabilistic products, as well as exploring future roles of weather forecasters.

Who We Are

At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, more than 800 environmental scientists work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at the Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, and solid Earth sciences. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The principal duties of this position are:

1. Serve as a HMT Project Facilitator to coordinate effective execution of externally funded projects in a manner that complements existing HMT test and evaluation activities.

• Coordinate with project Principal Investigators (PIs), HMT staff, and WPC/NWS forecasters to ensure timelines and test metrics (including objective and subjective) for successful outcomes are followed, and that proper documentation, training, and instructions are developed for the tools and products associated with each project.
• Manage collaborative processes through identification of HMT technical and operational focal points within WPC and ESRL as appropriate, to form effective working groups for each funded project and to determine optimal periods to incorporate projects into HMT test and evaluation activities.
• Coordinate project access to HMT IT infrastructure (hardware/software, networking, data flow, etc.) to facilitate test and evaluation activities while ensuring compliance with NOAA and NWS IT security requirements; provide technical expertise and support to enable project testing and evaluation.
• Provide oversight for submission of semi-annual progress reports and final reports at project conclusion; assist in the assessment of project reviews including levels of demonstrated progress; provide input on possible project modifications, recommendations for continued funding for multi-year projects, and potential for operational implementation of new tools and products (Transition Plans).
• Develop synergy and shared accomplishments with other NOAA Testbeds such as the NWS/Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, MO and the NWS/Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK.

2. Assist with the planning, coordination, and execution of internally-led (WPC, ESRL) HMT experiments and projects to ensure successful, effective, and compatible testing and evaluation activities.

3. Perform independent, operationally relevant research and/or development inspired by and consistent with the goals of the HMT and WPC.

4. As needed, represent the HMT effort by contributing to formal scientific publications, and/or attending off-site conferences, symposia and hazardous-weather-related outreach events.

5. As appropriate, develop synergy and shared accomplishments with other NOAA Testbeds.

6. Perform related duties as assigned.

What You Should Know

Normal working hours will be observed except for occasional irregular hours during data collection, warning/forecast experiments or workshops conducted at remote sites. Incumbent will receive training and gain expertise in warning and forecasting decision-making.

The new hire will be employed by CIRES with technical oversight provided by WPC management. The incumbent will work under general supervision but is expected to work independently and determine action to be taken in handling all but unusual situations. This is a non-supervisory position, although the incumbent is expected to serve as a leader of scientific or technical experiments, groups, or teams; therefore strong teamwork and leadership skills are necessary.

The position will be based at the WPC in College Park, Maryland.

What We Can Offer

We can offer a competitive salary, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be Challenged. Be Engaged. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• B.S. or advanced degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science or related area and at least one year experience in operational meteorology or applied research.
• Additional post-graduate education may be substituted for experience.

What You Will Need

• Excellent oral and written communication skills are highly desired and a strong ability to work in a collaborative team environment is needed for the position.
• Considerable experience with Linux operating systems with programming experience (Python, Perl, R, MATLAB, Shell Programming).
• Experience with meteorological display software, i.e. - ArcGIS, NCL, GEMPAK, etc. Please describe experience with web page development as an attachment to your application materials.
• Knowledge of statistical methods in meteorology and strong analytical skills.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Preference will be given to applicants with a background of working in NOAA Testbeds.
• Emphasis will be placed on applicants with considerable knowledge of weather forecasting from short to medium range, and their application to hazardous weather diagnosis and prediction, and creation/dissemination of probabilistic hazard information.
• Desirable to have peer reviewed publications.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume/CV.
2. Cover letter briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. Proof of degree in either a transcript confirming highest degree or a copy of diploma.
4. Description of your experience in a narrative with web page development.
5. List of contact information for 3 references who would be willing to write a recommendation letter if you are selected as the finalist.

• If you are selected as the finalist, we will contact you through email and request that you submit 1 name and email of a reference who will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation (can be one of the 3 noted above). This information will be kept confidential and viewable only the search committee.

Screening will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Posting Contact Name: Nancy Lathrop

Posting Contact Email: nancy.lathrop@colorado.edu

The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer

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