Post Doctoral Scholar

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The School of Earth Sciences is seeking applicants for a Post Doctoral Scholar to work with Prof. Lonnie G. Thompson and the ice core paleoclimatology group. The scholar will contribute to projects focused on the analysis and interpretation of ice core records recovered from the tropical Peruvian Andes, with an emphasis on microparticle concentration, size distribution, and dust mineralogy. The Post Doctoral Scholar will undertake an independent research program aimed at determining how dust has varied and influenced climate over the past 30,000 years, using the Huascaran ice cores (Peru) as the primary archive.

Requirements

• A PhD in Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, or a related field is required by the time of hire.
• Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive system (EDS) instrumentation, preferably including a Quattro Environmental SEM equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) Octane Elect EDS detector
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A collaborative approach to research and mentoring
• A strong record of writing and publishing scholarly work in peer‑reviewed journals, with the expectation of continued publication as a Post Doctoral Scholar

Nice To Haves

• A strong theoretical or practical background in ice core or closely related research, with specific experience analyzing tropical or low‑latitude ice core records.
• Proficiency in the analysis and interpretation of ice‑core microparticle concentration, size distribution, and mineralogical data.
• Electron microscopy
• Computational programming (e.g., Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB), Python, Julia)
• Machine learning approaches
• Radiative transfer modeling (e.g., Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiative (SNICAR) Model)
• Geospatial analysis (e.g., Google Earth Engine, GIS software (QGIS))

Responsibilities

• Conducting laboratory analyses to identify and source dust variations in the Huascaran cores
• Leading the preparation of manuscripts for submission to peer‑reviewed journals
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students
• Contributing to paleoclimate ice core group activities
• Participating in scientific meetings such as American Geophysical Union (AGU) and Geological Society of America (GSA)

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree