Postdoctoral Research Scholar - Extreme Heat, Climate, and Health

The School of Sustainability (SOS) at Arizona State University (ASU) seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to integrate biophysical human heat balance models with climate simulation output for heat adaptation and resilience research. The fellow will work directly with Drs. Jennifer Vanos, Associate Professor in SOS, and Matei Georgescu, Director of the ASU Urban Climate Research Center (UCRC) and Associate Professor in the School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning (SGSUP). This work is funded by the National Science Foundation Grant #2045663 “CAREER: Coupling Climate and Human Health Models to Build Pathways to Extreme Heat Resilience.”

The fellow will join a dynamic team of interdisciplinary scholars as part of the Human Biometeorology Lab, UCRC, Knowledge Exchange for Resilience, and Global Center for Heat Adaptation. This is an in-person position, housed on ASU’s Tempe campus. The successful applicant will work from an office located within the Walton Center for Planetary Health which is home to the Global Futures Laboratory. The full-time, non-tenure-track, benefits-eligible position is for one year, with renewal possible based on funding availability and excellent performance. The anticipated start is October 2024.

Job Description: Drs. Jennifer Vanos and Matei Georgescu are seeking to fill one Postdoctoral Research Fellow appointment that will contribute to research coupling climate and human health models for extreme heat adaptation and resilience.

The successful candidate will work with a range of bioclimate models to simulate heat stress and strain, and integrate critical physiological and behavioral adaptive capacities to quantify current and future heat-related livability and survivability using climate model outputs. These analyses will be based on the use of climate data at various scales generated in the UCRC for the contiguous U.S. at 20km/3hr temporal resolution and dynamically downscaled climate projections­­––accounting for emissions and urban expansion––for 2–3 cities at 1km/1hour temporal resolution. To accomplish the coupling of climate and human models, the successful candidate should have a strong understanding of human biophysical modeling, heat transfer, and climate processes.

The successful candidate will also provide mentorship to undergraduate and/or graduate students, help with heat chamber education outreach, provide input on experiential learning labs, attend lab meetings, and lead at least one publication. Finally, the postdoctoral researcher will aid in the brainstorming and a co-development forum for public heat-health outreach materials and future grant proposals.

The fellow may also collaborate with other faculty in the UCRC and across ASU, their graduate students and faculty, and students involved in the Global Center for Heat Adaptation.

The ASU College of Global Futures https://collegeofglobalfutures.asu.edu/ is an integral unit within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, an innovative enterprise designed to radically enhance the university’s impact in creating a thriving future for humanity and planet Earth. As defined in its design aspirations, ASU has a deep commitment to use-inspired, public-serving work in both the local and global contexts. This commitment is further articulated in ASU’s Charter, declaring the university’s enduring commitment to the communities in which it is embedded. 

Essential Duties:

• The successful candidate will conduct human energy balance modeling using high-end climate data output for the contiguous U.S. and dynamically-downscaled data for Phoenix;
• The successful candidate will produce and handle large data sets; lead activities focused on their analysis, including visualizations, presentations, and publishing; and undertake activities associated with archival of modeling output by adhering to FAIR data practices;
• The successful candidate will coordinate research output among the team members, facilitate development of reports, conference presentations, and lead as well as assist in the dissemination of high-impact publications;
• The successful candidate will have opportunities to communicate and collaborate with local public health professionals, city staff, and communities regarding results and adaptation strategies for health protection. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Engineering, Geography, Environmental Physiology, or a related field at the time of employment.
• Demonstrated expertise in coding (for data analysis and visualization) and handling large datasets or files, such as .netcdf.
• Demonstrated understanding and use of biophysical heat stress modeling (human energy balance and heat transfer), heat indices, and appropriate application, as well as the impacts of heat on the human body.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Earth’s climate system, climate variability at different spatiotemporal scales, and anthropogenic climate change.
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines, on a team, and with stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise with human bioclimate/human heat balance models AND/OR demonstrated experience in the modification of climate model codes (Global or Regional) to examine climate processes and impacts;
• Demonstrated expertise in numerical modeling
• Demonstrated experience with computer programming and scripting languages that facilitates post-processing and ingestion of numerical modeling output into bioclimate models;
• Demonstrated experience in publication of high-quality peer-reviewed research, including high quality data visualizations;
• Demonstrated experience in the communication of research products through oral communication (e.g., presentations at international conferences).

Application Instructions

To apply, candidates must submit the following materials electronically to http://apply.interfolio.com/151379.  Review of applications will begin August 15, 2024. If not filled, reviews will continue every two weeks until the search is closed.

• A cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest in the position (not to exceed two pages).
• A complete Curriculum Vitae including a list of publications and specific computing skills.
• Contact information for three references (including name, phone number, and email).

Questions related to the search may be addressed to Jennifer Vanos (jvanos@asu.edu).

A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
(See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

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