Multiscale & nearsurface data assimilation cycling systems in global-nested weather prediction model

The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program at Princeton University, in cooperation with NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), seeks a postdoctoral or more senior researcher to join the NOAA Research Global-Nest project. This multi-laboratory project aims to develop ultra-high resolution atmospheric prediction models for better prediction, understanding, and projection of extreme weather events. An important component of this project is designing a multiscale data assimilation (DA) system using the GFDL System for High-resolution prediction on Earth-to-Local Domains (SHiELD; www.gfdl.noaa.gov/shield), an FV3-based global weather model. This DA system aims to improve medium-range and subseasonal predictions of weather events and specifically extreme weather and to provide useful tools for understanding the predictability of these events.

The successful applicant will work with members of the GFDL FV3 Team to further the development of SHiELD-DA, and in particular to develop new assimilation algorithms and observation operators; perform ingest and quality control of remotely-sensed and in-situ data sets, especially satellites and station observations; improve model and observation error estimation; incorporate updates from other SHiELD and DA system developers; and evaluate the performance of the DA cycling system and initialized forecasts. We are especially interested in multiscale data assimilation techniques and the assimilation of near-surface (winds, screen-level temperature and humidity) and soil conditions (moisture, temperature) for new two-way global-to-regional nested configurations of SHiELD designed to reach convective scales (< 5="" km)="" over="" the="" contiguous="" united="" states="" and="" beyond.="" the="" project="" will="" cooperate="" closely="" with="" other="" da="" developers="" at="" us="" operational="" centers="" and="" other="" laboratory="" collaborators,="" including="" at="" ncep="" and="" through="" the="" unified="" forecast="" system="" (ufs)="" development="" activities.="" all="" applicants="" should="" have="" a="" strong="" background="" in="" using="" da="" systems="" (such="" as="" gsi="" or="" jedi)="" and="" a="" strong="" understanding="" of="" the="" data="" sets="" and="" algorithms="" used="" in="" da="" systems.="" selected="" applicants="" will="" be="" expected="" to="" work="" in="" a="" collaborative="" environment,="" adhere="" to="" best="" coding="" and="" data="" handling="" practices,="" write="" technical="" notes="" and="" peer-reviewed="" publications="" on="" their="" work,="" and="" for="" their="" work="" to="" be="" prepared="" for="" use="" by="" coworkers="" and="" external="" collaborators="" after="" publication.="" this="" is="" a="" one="" year="" position="" with="" potential="" for="" an="" additional="" year="" based="" on="" candidate="" performance="" and="" continued="" funding.="" candidates="" should="" have="" a="" doctoral="" degree="" in="" atmospheric="" science="" or="" a="" related="" field.="" applicants="" are="" asked="" to="" submit="" a="" cv,="" publication="" list,="" a="" one-to-two="" page="" statement="" of="" research="" interests,="" and="" contact="" information="" for="" 3="" references.="" review="" of="" applications="" will="" begin="" as="" soon="" as="" they="" are="" received="" and="" continue="" until="" the="" position="" is="" filled.="" princeton="" is="" interested="" in="" candidates="" who,="" through="" their="" research,="" will="" contribute="" to="" the="" diversity="" and="" excellence="" of="" the="" academic="" community.="" applicants="" should="" apply="" online="" at="" https://puwebp.princeton.edu/acadhire/position/27662.="" this="" position="" is="" subject="" to="" princeton="" university's="" background="" check="" policy.="" for="" more="" information="" about="" the="" research="" project="" and="" application="" process,="" please="" contact="" mingjing="" tong="" at="" mingjing.tong@noaa.gov="" or="" lucas="" harris="" at="" lucas.harris@noaa.gov.="" the="" position="" is="" subject="" to="" the="" university's="" background="" check="" policy.="" princeton="" university="" is="" an="" equal="" opportunity/affirmative="" action-xhr="#" employer="" and="" all="" qualified="" applicants="" will="" receive="" consideration="" for="" employment="" without="" regard="" to="" age,="" race,="" color,="" religion,="" sex,="" sexual="" orientation,="" gender="" identity="" or="" expression,="" national="" origin,="" disability="" status,="" protected="" veteran="" status,="" or="" any="" other="" characteristic="" protected="" by="">