Scientist IV

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)•Boulder, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position seeks a highly motivated social scientist to conduct innovative interdisciplinary and convergence research focusing on human risk communication, risk assessment, behavioral responses, and well-being outcomes in response to dynamic weather risks. The primary focus involves developing and implementing longitudinal research designs to study public responses to evolving hazardous weather, conducting appropriate longitudinal data analyses, and disseminating results to scientific audiences and sponsors. A complementary focus includes designing, coordinating, and implementing other research projects integrating risk analysis and hazardous weather, such as community-based risk communication, research on disproportionately affected populations, and studies to facilitate long-term preparation and recovery from hazardous weather events. The research aims to identify insights into human behavior dynamics, guide improved weather-related risk communication, inform weather research priorities, and enhance resilience to hazardous weather events. The scientist will be encouraged to explore new opportunities, including dynamic human data sources and AI/ML collaborations. This role is part of the Weather Risk Analysis and Decision-making (WRAD) research team in the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) Lab, contributing to program planning, internal and external communication, and funding proposal development (as PI, Co-PI, or Co-I). The work also supports the cross-Center Convergence Science Program. The scientist will work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams of social scientists, atmospheric scientists, and computational scientists, as well as with public and private sector partners and end-users, leading and partnering on research efforts.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree and 10 years related experience, or a Master’s degree and 6 years of experience, or a PhD in a scientific discipline and 2 years related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Advanced knowledge of scientific principles, methods, and observational and/or modelling techniques in a primary discipline, with a sound understanding of related fields.
Good mentorship and interpersonal skills for supporting less experienced staff and fostering collaboration and scientific development.
Skilled in developing or refining scientific models, algorithms, techniques, or tools, with attention to technical accuracy, usability, and applicability.
Advanced skills in data analysis and synthesis, including statistical, computational, or simulation-based approaches using relevant tools or domain-specific platforms.
Capable of making contributions to strategic planning and proposal development, aligning research efforts with organizational goals and sponsor needs.
Ability to lead components of scientific projects, manage deliverables, coordinate across collaborators, and contribute to successful outcomes.
Effective communicator, capable of producing peer-reviewed publications and sponsor reports, and presenting results to scientific and non-technical audiences.
Proven ability to design, execute, and interpret complex scientific investigations using both established and evolving methodologies.
Comprehensive knowledge of various longitudinal research designs, including intensive longitudinal data collection.
Comprehensive knowledge of longitudinal data analyses, including growth models and dynamic network models in multilevel modeling and structural equation modeling frameworks.
Comprehensive knowledge of statistical data analysis programs (e.g., R, SPSS, Python).
Experience with qualitative research designs and analyses.
Ability to develop novel research questions and/or hypotheses and to develop appropriate research designs and/or statistical analyses to investigate them.
Experience with community-engaged research.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a disciplinarily diverse research team.
Skill in developing and implementing project plans to meet goals, objectives, and deadlines for deliverables.
Excellent time management and organization skills.
Strong written and oral communication skills, both within field of expertise and across disciplinary boundaries.

Nice To Haves

Experience with proposal-writing.
Experience managing project budgets.
Experience managing large datasets.
Knowledge of geospatial statistical analysis.

Responsibilities

Designs and executes scientific projects of significant complexity, advancing understanding in theoretical, observational, and/or applied domains.
Manages technical direction for projects, contributes findings in a variety of ways, and supports institutional and sponsor engagement.
Provides mentorship, enhances research quality, and plays a part in shaping team and program outcomes.
Engages in mission-aligned activities both within the organization and throughout the broader scientific community.
Contributes through a combination of scientific expertise, professional service, and education and outreach efforts.
Designing and executing complex scientific and/or technical investigations, to address complex, often interdisciplinary problems.
Developing or refining scientific models, algorithms, experimental methods, observational techniques, or analytical tools, applying advanced technical principles and incorporating recent developments in the field.
Leading or coordinating scientific components of projects or programs, including establishing goals, methodologies, timelines, and overseeing deliverables across internal and external collaborators.
Applying advanced data analysis and interpretation techniques, including statistical, computational, or simulation-based approaches to extract insights and validate results.
Contributing to and/or co-leading peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, data sets, findings, proposals, and documentation, and presenting findings at national and international conferences, workshops, and stakeholder briefings.
Supporting less experienced staff and team members by providing technical guidance, fostering scientific growth, and supporting collaborative working environments.
Contributing to scientific proposal development and strategic planning.
Engaging with internal and external stakeholders, translating complex scientific findings for diverse audiences and helping to shape project direction or programmatic priorities.
Leading development of products, tools, instruments and/or technologies for projects and programs.
Participate in, lead, and develop research and collaborations that advance fundamental and actionable knowledge about the dynamics of human behavior in response to hazardous weather risks and about how to intersect this knowledge with the predictability and prediction capabilities of hazardous weather.
Develop longitudinal research designs of varying structures for different types of hazardous weather events (hurricanes, heat waves, atmospheric rivers, fire weather, etc.).
Collect longitudinal data from different populations and integrate these data with complimentary datasets, including meteorological observational data (precipitation amounts, wind speeds, etc.), weather forecast products (watches, warnings, advisories, etc.), and other social data (mobility patterns, digital device use, social media, etc.).
Conduct advanced statistical analysis to analyze longitudinal data.
Develop and implement other research designs (beyond longitudinal panel surveys) that examine different facets of the dynamic human system, including studying different populations, compound hazards, risk communication message interventions, the roles of AI/ML, etc.
Advance empirical, theoretical, and methodological knowledge pertaining to risk analysis and risk communication.
Engage with other researchers—including other social scientists, atmospheric scientists, data scientists, and others—including those who are internal and external to NCAR to integrate research perspectives, co-analyze data, and co-develop meaning about implications of results.
As opportunities allow, mentor students and junior researchers.
Develop, pursue, and lead new research threads, including pursuing external funding opportunities (from public, private, and/or non-profit organizations), to extend and advance research on dynamics of human behavior and associated research areas.
Write and contribute to scientific manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and for presentations at meetings and conferences.
Help prepare and deliver summary reports or project progress reports as needed.
Disseminate information about the research and results to various audiences.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Retirement (UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay; 100% fully vested on day one)
Life insurance
Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities
Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)
10 paid holidays
12 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