Multiple Postdoctoral Positions NSF STC LEAP center

[Pierre Gentine]

Multiple Postdoctoral Positions

National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center

Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP)

2021-2026

https://leap.columbia.edu/

 

Multiple Postdoctoral Positions are available at the interface of climate science and data science at Columbia University, the University of California Irvine, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

The recently awarded 2021 National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP) aims to develop next-generation climate modeling by developing and applying modern data science algorithms to climate science. LEAP is a joint effort between Columbia University, the University of California Irvine, New York University, The University of Minnesota, Teachers College, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), and NCAR.

LEAP’s primary research objective is to improve near-term climate projections by merging physical modeling with machine learning across a continuum from expertise in climate science and climate modeling to cutting-edge machine learning algorithms. Climate scientists and modelers have not yet fully integrated the wealth of existing datasets into their models, and while machine learning algorithms have been good at emulating and interpolating, they have difficulties extrapolating or predicting extremes. By combining these approaches, LEAP will trigger a significant advancement for data science algorithms applied to physical problems. LEAP aims to incorporate physics and causal mechanisms into machine learning algorithms for better generalization and extrapolation, while optimally using the wealth of data available to climate science, in order to better predict the future climate on time scales relevant to adaptation.

The hired postdocs and engineer will be part of a burgeoning transdisciplinary team at the interface between machine learning/data science and climate sciences, including research scientists, faculty members, PhD students, undergraduate and Bridge-to-PhD researchers. We are specifically looking for postdocs and one integration engineer in the areas of:

• Statistical methods for space-time representational learning and modeling 

• Warm rain microphysics emulation 

• Machine Learning for Robust Ice Microphysics Emulation 

• Parameter Estimation and Uncertainty Quantification for the CLM 

• Climate model parameter tuning aided by machine learning

• Learning new Ice Sheet Sliding Laws 
  

One of the primary goals of LEAP is to increase the diversity in geosciences and data science, to be on par with the US population by the end of the Center lifetime. The Center will take proactive steps to reach its diversity goal. We thus particularly welcome applicants from underrepresented groups.

First review of applications will start on May 13, 2022. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Applicants should apply to their specific position of interest but are welcome to apply to multiple positions.