Postdoctoral Associate in Earth System Model Emulation and Climate Science at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology in United States

MIT has an opening for a Postdoctoral Associate in the Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The position sits at the intersection of Earth Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, and climate-focused modeling.

The postdoc will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of climate scientists, mathematicians, economists, and software engineers to develop, validate, and use efficient and flexible model architectures involving Earth system models and fast-running model emulators. The post also mentions ML-based approaches such as diffusion, stochastic interpolants, and flow matching, as well as reduced-order models and climate science applications using emulators.

Research themes include advancing computational techniques for climate and/or human systems models, building a model “builder” platform for integrating emulators of Earth and human systems, and applying emulators to produce actionable information for coastal resilience planning. The role is closely connected to the MIT Climate Project and aims to demonstrate near-term impact on climate challenges.

Eligibility: applicants must hold a Ph.D. in applied mathematics, atmospheric or oceanic sciences, computer science, engineering, physics, statistics, or a related field by the date of hire. The posting also asks for a strong physical, mathematical, and computational background; experience with decision-making applications and/or integrated modeling; programming experience in at least one general-purpose language (preferably Julia) and parallel computing; strong communication skills; self-motivation; and the ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams.

Funding and terms: this is a full-time postdoctoral appointment with a posted pay range of USD 71,000 to 90,000 per year. Visa sponsorship is available. The appointment is for one year with a possibility of extension.

How to apply: submit a cover letter describing relevant qualifications, current research interests, and expertise; a CV; one peer-reviewed publication; and three recommendation letters. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged. The start date can be any time after July 1.

For questions, contact Prof. Raffaele Ferrari and Prof. Noelle Selin at [email protected].