Job Details

Postdoctoral Associate

Position Number: 6904444
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Postdoctoral Associate

Requisition Number: 69758
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 05-Mar-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in AI/ML for Weather Prediction and Data Assimilation to join a cutting-edge project titled "Advancing Global Weather Prediction through Novel AI-Driven Data Assimilation and Air-Sea Process Understanding".

Machine learning (ML) is transforming global weather prediction, with new emulators rivaling traditional numerical models. However, their ability to capture the dynamics of individual weather events such as atmospheric river (AR) events or extratropical cyclones remains under-explored, particularly regarding initialization through data assimilation (DA). This project aims to address this gap by developing capabilities specifically designed to assimilate observations into ML models for AR modeling and prediction.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) provides a world-class, interdisciplinary research and educational environment to examine the dynamical, physical, and chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere and ocean. A major theme is the establishment of a physical basis for observing, modeling, and understanding climate and global change.

The University of Colorado Boulder is located in a region having the greatest concentration of geophysical researchers in the nation and perhaps the world. The proximity of ATOC to this atmospheric and oceanic science excellence is the foundation of our unique philosophy and vision, which elevates our department to one of worldwide prominence. The guiding principle of ATOC is to be the focal point for atmospheric and oceanic science education and research training in this geographic region of world-renowned excellence. The University of Colorado, Boulder was ranked number one in atmospheric science in Shanghai Ranking's 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The selected candidate will work on developing and evaluating next-generation DA techniques for state-of-the-art ML emulators (e.g., GraphCast, Pangu-Weather).

Develop ML-DA Systems: Implement and test data assimilation systems that incorporate pure and hybrid ML models to assimilate actual observational data, extending beyond synthetic experiments.
Innovative Methodologies: Explore emerging paradigms such as diffusion-based approaches (e.g., DiffDA) to model posterior distributions and graph-based optimization strategies (e.g., GraphDOP) to improve representational fidelity.
SAFARI Campaign Integration: Assimilate ocean surface observations collected during the SAFARI campaign to enhance understanding of air-sea interaction processes, including surface fluxes and SST frontal scale interactions.
Model Evaluation: Compare results from ML-based DA systems against NOAA's operational Global Forecast System (GFS) and analyze forecast sensitivity and uncertainty.
Collaboration: Work in coordination with modeling teams at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), CSU, U. Albany, and CW3E/Scripps to compare model architectures and initialization methods.

What You Should Know

About the Project Team:

The Principal Investigator, Dr. Aneesh Subramanian, is a member of the AR Recon steering committee, contributing to international efforts to better predict moisture transport in AR events. The project involves collaborative efforts including model-observation integration and unique moist dynamics sensitivity analysis.

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this full-time position is $65,000 - $72,000.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be curious. Be inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Education: Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, Physics, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
Technical Skills:

Experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow).
Familiarity with data assimilation techniques (EnKF, Variational methods) is highly desirable.
Proficiency in Python and handling large geophysical datasets (e.g., ERA5, climate model output).

Research Interest: A strong interest in weather prediction, atmospheric dynamics, and the intersection of AI with physical sciences.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV.
Cover Letter: Include a statement of Research Interests
Names and Contact Information for three References
Optional: Transcripts/Proof of Degree

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version (if applicable) as an optional attachment.

Please apply by March 5th, 2026 for full consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Postdoctoral-Associate/69758