Postdoc: Coastal Sea Level Variability and Ocean Dynamics

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL is unique among NASA Centers in that its staff are Caltech employees, yet can access NASA technical resources. Cross-discipline teamwork is standard here: colleagues across JPL's science and engineering organizations and on Caltech's academic campus often work together. Learning to speak and understand other disciplines' languages is a doorway to the creativity needed to do what has not been done before. JPL staff are encouraged to create mission concepts that address humanity's core questions through a combination of science and technology. They are supported in developing ideas into proposals and hardware, and in communicating funded missions' results to the scientific community and the broader public. JPL seeks to employ scientists and engineers who are passionate about lifelong learning and excited to both contribute to and lead team efforts. We emphasize the importance of partnering across discipline boundaries and creating a friendly, constructive work environment to overcome space exploration's challenges. Postdocs at JPL benefit from an informal mentoring network, an annual conference showcasing their results, a dedicated seminar series, exposure to diverse career paths, and social connections across the JPL and Caltech community for advice on housing, childcare, and other aspects of living in southern California.

As part of JPL's Earth Science Section, postdocs have a unique opportunity to engage in groundbreaking research and contribute to the understanding of our changing planet. At JPL, postdocs are immersed in state-of-the-art technology and world-leading expertise that spans all aspects of the Earth system, enabling us to map the myriad connections between Earth’s vital processes and the climate impacts of ongoing natural and human-caused changes.

In partnership with JPL’s diverse science, technology, and engineering workforce, and with Earth scientists and other partners at universities and other institutions, JPL postdocs have the opportunity to contribute to the development and demonstration of cutting-edge research and new technologies that can be directly applied to a broad range of Earth science measurements, missions, model development, and other advances. Opportunities include leveraging satellite observations, data from airborne missions, and computer modeling to transform measurements into a deep understanding of Earth's system and the interaction between processes. Increasingly, work at JPL includes using that understanding to inform decision makers and society at large.

What sets Earth science research at JPL apart is thus our broad and unique spectrum of research elements, providing a one-of-a-kind and enriching experience that goes beyond that found in traditional research environments. JPL is ideally suited to postdocs who are passionate about advancing our understanding of the Earth system.

About the Project:

Sea level rise is among the most tangible climate change signals within the Earth System. While regionally variable, coastlines across the globe are experiencing increasing sea levels and associated impacts such as ocean flooding and salt water intrusion. To better predict sea level at the coast on interannual to tidal time scales, it is critical to leverage the entire coastal sea level observing system and modeling tools at our disposal. The JPL is seeking a postdoc to carry out research that will entail

• Analysis of a variety of sea level datasets including the global network of coastal tide gauges, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission coastal zone data, and model output from the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office.

• Contribute to both basic and applied research on ocean dynamics and processes that impact coastal sea level. Using this suite of tools, the postdoc will have the opportunity to work directly with a number of experts in the field ranging from ocean model developers to operational sea level observing specialists.

• Be a part of the NASA Sea Level Change Science Team and have the opportunity to interact with the team at large via participation in annual science team meetings and monthly telecons and working groups.

• If desired, the postdoc will have the ability to contribute to coastal practitioner engagement, educational outreach on sea level rise, and initiatives dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the geosciences.

• Lastly, the postdoc will be supported to travel to conferences to communicate their research findings/work products and build their professional network.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in physical oceanography, fluid dynamics, or a related field from an accredited university.

• Strong coding skills using multiple languages (particularly MATLAB, python, or Julia and bash)

• Experience analyzing ocean model output

• Experience analyzing in situ time series

• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Ability to pursue research independently

• Excellent organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on remote Linux servers

• Experience with the MITgcm and/or MOM ocean models

• Experience analyzing satellite observations

• Basic understanding of data assimilation techniques (e.g., 4DVar, Kalman Filter, etc.)

• Experience maintaining open source, version-controlled code repositories via Git

• A consistent record of first-author or co-author publications

• Research focus in nearshore, coastal shelf, or tropical ocean dynamics a plus

The appointee will carry out research resulting in publications in peer-reviewed journals with guidance from the JPL advisor and collaborators at JPL, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the University of Hawai`i Sea Level Center.

Applicants may be subject to additional program requirements by NASA. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years. Candidates should submit the following to this site: CV, representative publications, contact information for three references, and a cover letter stating their research accomplishments and interests.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$82,180 - $82,180

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

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The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.