26-105: Data Analyst

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

2d•$67,000 - $70,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow for its collaborative research with the National Park Service (NPS) Air Resources Division (ARD). The NPS is responsible for protecting visual air quality and other air quality related values in national park units. ARD manages national networks of air quality monitors and conducts special studies to address air pollution in national parks. ARD and CIRA play leadership roles in the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) visibility network, which monitors visibility in national parks and wilderness areas and provides speciated particle monitoring required under the EPA’s Regional Haze Rule (RHR). This 12-month fellowship, with a flexible start date between May 1, 2026, and July 1, 2026, and the option for renewal, involves supporting ARD monitoring and data analysis assessments for the IMPROVE and RHR programs. The fellow will analyze aerosol and visibility data, use dispersion, regional, and/or global chemical transport models, and potentially work on optimizing the IMPROVE monitoring network using AI/machine learning methods and exploring applications for global modeling to understand natural conditions for RHR metrics.

Requirements

Ph.D. in atmospheric science or related physical or environmental science discipline.
Must successfully complete Ph.D. defense before the starting date.
Experience in computer programming for data analysis (especially Python, R, or other language).
Experience writing for scientific publications.
Experience working with air quality data.

Nice To Haves

Experience using statistical, mathematical, or machine learning methods with multiple data sources.
Experience with running and analyzing data from global models such as GEOS-CHEM.
Familiarity with the IMPROVE program and EPA’s Regional Haze Rule.
Experience working in a team environment and communicating scientific results.

Responsibilities

Analyze measured and modeled air quality data to understand the causal mechanisms of elevated pollutant levels in class I areas, including investigating contributions from specific sources, source categories, atmospheric chemistry, and meteorology.
Analyze aerosol, nephelometer and low-cost sensor data to estimate visibility metrics to support the RHR.
Explore potential use of global modeling data for estimates of natural conditions for the RHR.
Explore possible uses for AI/machine learning to help inform network optimization.
Contribute to and lead scientific studies that serve the NPS-ARD mission.
Develop scientific ideas and skills that may contribute to future proposals and foster more opportunities for independent research.
Attend scientific conferences and present results.
Coordinate and collaborate with other team members working on IMPROVE data analyses.
Share research results with colleagues and the broader scientific community through progress reports, meetings, scientific conferences, and contributions to journal publications.