Posting Detail Information
Working Title25-110: Milky Seas/ Bioluminescence Remote Sensing Expert
Position LocationFort Collins, CO
Work LocationPosition qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional PositionYes
Posting Number202501141AP
Position TypeAdmin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification TitlePostdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week40
Proposed Annual Salary Range$67,000 - $72,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Employee Benefits
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Desired Start Date09/02/2025
Position End Date (if temporary)09/01/2026
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on08/28/2025
Description of Work Unit
The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere ( CIRA ) at Colorado State University ( CSU ) is a multi-million dollar research organization located on CSU's Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. CIRA is a cooperative institute (CI) that is also a research department within CSU's College of Engineering, in partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Science. Its vision is to conduct interdisciplinary research in the atmospheric sciences by entraining skills beyond the meteorological disciplines, exploiting advances in engineering and computer science, facilitating transitional activity between pure and applied research, leveraging both national and international resources and partnerships, and assisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), CSU , the State of Colorado, and the Nation through the application of our research to areas of societal benefit. Expanding on this Vision, our Mission is to serve as a nexus for multi-disciplinary cooperation among CI and NOAA research scientists, University faculty, staff and students in the @context of NOAA -specified research theme areas in satellite applications for weather/climate forecasting. Important bridging elements of the CI include the communication of research findings to the international scientific community, transition of applications and capabilities to NOAA operational users, education and training programs for operational user proficiency, outreach programs to K-12 education and the general public for environmental literacy, and understanding and quantifying the societal impacts of NOAA research.
Position Summary
The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere ( CIRA ) on the Foothills Campus at Colorado State University ( CSU ) in Fort Collins, CO, seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Fellow to continue and expand upon CIRA's initial development of quantitative, physically-based prediction capabilities for milky sea bioluminescence. This Postdoctoral Fellowship is a 12-month appointment with an option to renew for an additional year contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding. The starting date for this position will be early September 2025. Candidates for this position must be a US citizen or lawful Permanent Resident in possession of a physical US "Green Card" due to this position being funded by a US Department of Defense contract, and export control restrictions.
The individual in this Fellowship will support CIRA's development of a coupled air/sea/biosphere earth system science project called "Bioluminescent Milky Seas". This project will be funded by the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research ( ONR ) as well as by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ( NOAA ) Office of Low Earth Orbit ( LEO ). Target development tasks for this position will include conducting research into previously unexplored coupled atmosphere/ocean/biosphere interactions of milky seas via novel bioluminescence detection capabilities including satellite remote sensing and numerical modeling. The predictive tools will support possible deployment of instrumented research craft or other sea-faring equipment/vessels to intercept an active milky sea event to sample and measure its composition and associated environmental conditions, toward better understanding formation mechanisms and the role of the phenomenon in nature.
The individual in this Fellowship will report to the CIRA's Director, who also serves as Principal Investigator on the ONR and NOAA sponsored research programs mentioned above. The objective of this position is to provide an opportunity for a motivated and qualified researcher to explore innovative approaches in several high-impact, cutting-edge environmental satellite data applications while working in a highly stimulating and interdisciplinary team environment. Onsite presence is preferred for this position, however remote work from a home/office will be permitted. Travel to attend periodic, in-person coordination meetings in Fort Collins may be required and will be paid by the project.
Required Job Qualifications
In your cover letter, please address EACH required qualification related to your experience. A cover letter that fails to address the required qualifications for this position may not be considered further after review by the search committee.
Must be a US citizen or lawful Permanent Resident in possession of a physical US "Green Card" due to this position being funded by a US Department of Defense contract, and export control restrictions.
Ph.D. in meteorology or atmospheric sciences. Applicants must successfully complete their dissertation defense before the August start date;
Experience working in satellite remote sensing including work with LEO Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite ( VIIRS ) instrument Day/Night Band data;
Experience leveraging ocean model output, model reanalyses, satellite imagery, and other long-term data records to study the coupled atmospheric and oceanic dynamics that control marine ecosystems, as they pertain to the ocean biosphere response;
Familiarity with milky sea characteristics including historically preferred formation zones, visual characteristics, and distinction from classical dinoflagellate bioluminescence;
Familiarity with ocean circulation processes from synoptic scale down to microscale as it pertains to deep water upwelling and isolation of surface waters forming potential milky sea habitats;
Experience communicating across disciplinary boundaries verbally and in writing.
Preferred Job Qualifications
In your cover letter, please specifically address the applicable preferred qualifications for this position. A cover letter that fails to address the preferred qualifications for this position may not be considered further after review by the search committee.
experience working with coupled atmosphere/ocean/biosphere interactions of milky seas;
experience working with numerical forecast models;
experience writing for scientific publications.
Essential Duties
Job Duty CategoryApplied Research
Duty/Responsibility
Conduct research and develop new prediction techniques and tools geared towards the prediction of future bioluminescent milky seas events
Percentage Of Time45
Job Duty CategoryIndependent Research
Duty/Responsibility
Develop scientific ideas and skills that may contribute to future proposals and foster more opportunities for independent research.
Expand the research into related avenues of Earth System Science to understand the @context of milky seas within the coupled earth/atmosphere system.
Percentage Of Time20
Job Duty CategoryCollaborative Research
Duty/Responsibility
Develop tools useful in actively informing teams on deployment of a research craft to intercept active milky seas events to sample and learn more about their composition and environmental conditions.
Percentage Of Time20
Job Duty CategoryDocumentation & Reporting
Duty/Responsibility
Share research results with colleagues and the broader scientific community through progress reports, meetings, scientific conferences, and contributions to journal publications.
Travel to scientific conferences to present results.
Percentage Of Time15
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you need assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search ContactLinn Barrett, linn.barrett@colostate.edu
EEO
Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any @type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The @type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
References Requested
References Requested
Minimum Requested3
Maximum Requested3
Supplemental Questions
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