Job Description Summary:

The UCAR Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS) announces the 2023 call for applications for the 2024 Jack Eddy Postdoctoral Fellowships. Several new appointments will be made.

The Jack Eddy Postdoctoral Fellowship appointees will train the next generation of researchers needed in the emerging field of Heliophysics (the broad field of Sun-Earth connections). The program is sponsored by the NASA Living With a Star (LWS) Program.

The Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS) serves the Earth System Science community in three distinct areas of service. We partner with federal agencies and businesses to hire critical scientific staff enabling a more robust workforce. Through our scientific programs we seek to edify new research with our postdoctoral programs, our visiting scientist and internship programs, along with our interagency support programs. We also help build the Earth system science community by convening and managing summer schools and institutes, conferences, and advisory committees.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

$76,650

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.*

Application Notes

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until filled with priority given to applications submitted by January 26, 2024. Applications submitted past this date may not be fully considered, depending on the quality and volume of applications received.

Required application materials ( compiled into 1 PDF ) :

• Application Questionnaire (answered within the online application)

  • Ensure you have the names and contact information of 4 professional reference letter writers handy, as you must provide it during the application process (1 will be your PhD advisor, and the other 3 should be relevant to your research and academic experience).

• Full Application Packet - Please refer to the Required Application Documents listed below for a list of all the required material.

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

Work Location: Open to proposed U.S. Universities or Research Institutions. Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Length of Position: 2-year term position, based on continued program funding. Successful applicants in this program work under the mentorship of host scientists in areas of mutual interest.

What You Will Do

Here is a brief outline of what one would expect to be responsible for in this role.

Established by NASA’s Living With a Star program and UCAR/CPAESS in 2009, this prestigious fellowship program is named after pioneering solar researcher John A. “Jack” Eddy. The two-year fellowship is designed to train the next generation of interdisciplinary heliophysics researchers. It matches early-career PhDs with experienced scientists at U.S. host research institutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct independent or collaborative research under a proposed plan directly related to the goals of the program.

• Document the results of the research in scientific publications and present results at seminars and conferences.

• Pursue outside activities that advance professional growth, which may include contributing to educational programs, serving on committees, and attending workshops.

• Work on Sun-Earth questions from a truly interdisciplinary perspective.

• Get the freedom and support to pursue your research.

• Establish a relationship with a new mentor at the start of your career.

• Benefit from engagement in the preeminent fellowship available to the astrophysics community.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

• Ph.D. degree in a related science;

  • Preference is given to those who are seeking their first fellowship and have held a Ph.D. for no more than three (3) years from the application deadline of January 26, 2024.

• Awardees must change institutions in the absence of compelling circumstances.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work independently and conduct research with minimal supervision.

• Skill in oral and written communication.

Application Instructions

STEP 1. Prepare, collect, and organize documents in the order listed below and combine all documents into one (1) PDF.

• Here are two resources for combining multiple documents into a single PDF: How To Combine Files into One PDF ; How To Combine PDFs into One File .

STEP 2. Submit your application through Workday, including attaching/uploading your Application Documents from Step 1.

Please prepare your application into one (1) PDF document, including all of the following documents, in the order listed below:

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS (Compiled into one (1) PDF)

1) Personal Statement (2-page limit, 12 pt. type size) addressing the questions below:

• Why are you specifically interested in a NASA Jack Eddy Postdoctoral Fellowship?

• How did you demonstrate leadership and service in your community, and how would you bring and grow this experience during a Jack Eddy Fellowship?

• Describe the relevance of your proposed research project to the NASA Living With a Star program.

• Tell us about your past activities related to inclusion, diversity, and equity in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. What will you do to create an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment as a Jack Eddy Fellow?

• Please also add a justification statement, if applicable, to explain any breaks in your career path.

2) Resume/Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications.

3) Research Proposal (Must be titled, 5-page limit, 12 pt. Type size) including figures and appendices.

• Bibliography/Citations/Literature References are NOT included in this 5-page limit.

• Proposals must describe an actual, novel research project.

• Proposals must be original to the applicant and cannot be sourced from a previously funded proposal to a different funding agency.

• Proposals must address the broader impact of your research on the community at large.

4) Host Institution Materials

The following documents are needed from the Host(s) with whom you intend to work. Applicants are responsible for collecting these materials from their Host(s) and must submit these documents as part of the application packet. If you intend to have co-hosts, the Letter of Intent should be co-written by both Hosts. We require separate documents for the remaining material (Resumes, Mentoring Plans, and Current and Pending Research Support) from the co-hosts.

*Note that you can work with a host institution not listed on the UCAR Database of Hosts *. Please see How Hosting Institutions Apply for more information.

• Letter of Intent – in the case of specific laboratory needs, a letter should accompany the application from the specific institution willing to provide the resources.

• Host(s) Curriculum Vitae/Resume

• Host(s) proposed Mentoring Plan

• Host(s) list of current and pending research support

The following institutional departments currently host first-year C&GC Fellows and are ineligible to serve as hosts this year because they are currently hosting Jack Eddy Fellows:

• Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• National Center for Atmospheric Research, High Altitude Observatory

• New Jersey Institute of Technology, Physics Department

• The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory

• University of California, Berkeley, Space Sciences Laboratory

Note: For additional information please visit the Jack Eddy How to Apply website.

Benefits Overview

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits . In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance, UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

• Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities

• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one

• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)

• 10 paid holidays

• 10 days of sick leave each year

• 14 weeks of paid parental leave

• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary

• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Our organization is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome and supported. To learn more about these efforts, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan and our Diversity & Inclusion: A Welcoming Workplace site.

Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they do not meet almost 100% of the desired skills and experience . Please note this is not necessary! If you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We can provide on-the-job training for the rest!

Some Final Considerations

At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid, fully-remote and/or flexible work schedules.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.