Post-Doctoral Researcher – Applied Climate Science

Posting TitlePost-Doctoral Researcher – Applied Climate Science

.

LocationCO – Golden

.

Position TypePostdoc (Fixed Term)

.

Hours Per Week40

.

Working at NRELThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation’s primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

NREL is seeking a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher to contribute to our climate resilience program. The program includes cutting-edge initiatives aimed at ensuring power system resilience under climate change and improving urban heat resilience in vulnerable communities. This position offers an opportunity to apply advanced climate science, machine learning, energy systems analysis, and urban heat mitigation strategies to real-world challenges, driving positive impacts on resilience in a changing climate. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Applied Climate Science: Develop and apply generative machine learning models to create downscaled climate data products that will inform localized extreme weather, power system reliability, and urban heat resilience.  

• Mitigation Strategy Analysis: Conduct parametric design studies to assess the impact of various urban heat mitigation measures, such as increasing vegetation cover and albedo of rooftops and paved surfaces. 

• Community Engagement: Collaborate with community partners, electric utilities, and city officials to incorporate local insights into the modeling process, ensuring that data outputs are relevant and actionable for planning. 

• Data Integration and Communication: Work closely with project collaborators to translate complex modeling results into decision-relevant data, supporting community-driven planning processes. 

• Research and Publication: Contribute to high-impact publications and presentations that advance the field of climate resilience, with opportunities to present findings at conferences and workshops. 

What We Offer: 

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation’s primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

• A dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment at a leading national laboratory. 

• Opportunities to collaborate with experts in applied climate science, machine learning, and systems planning. 

• Work developing cutting-edge projects and contributing to research in the renewable energy industry. 

• Access to world-class computational resources and datasets. 

• A flexible work environment with hybrid remote and onsite work options. 

• Professional development opportunities, including mentoring, training, and networking. 

Please submit cover letter as part of application materials. Applications without cover letter will not be considered.

.

Basic QualificationsMust be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Climate Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Power Systems Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.

• Strong background in climate data analysis.   

• Experience with machine learning techniques and their application to climate data. 

• Proficiency in programming languages, especially Python. 

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. 

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team. 

• Demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with satellite remote sensing data, particularly in the context of urban research. 

• Experience with the intersection of weather, climate, and energy systems. 

• Familiarity with urban heat mitigation strategies and their implementation. 

• Experience with high-performance computing. 

• Experience working with community-based organizations or in community-engaged research.

.

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 – $120,800

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

.

EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

EEO is the Law hiring-jobs.com Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination hiring-jobs.com Reasonable Accommodations

E-Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.