[ES_JOBS_NET] Postdoc position at Rice University on volcanic-tectonic-climate interaction and habitability

[Pedram Hassanzadeh]

The CLEVER Planets team and Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice University are seeking applicants for a fully funded postdoctoral scholar position who would explore volcanic-tectonic-climate interactions of rocky planets and how such interactions affect habitability. The contract will be initially for 1 year and is renewable for up to 3 years based on progress and performance. The salary would commensurate with experience.

 As a postdoctoral scholar, the candidate will work on developing a deeper understanding of volcanic-climate-tectonic interaction and the implications for the cycling of the life-essential ingredients on terrestrial planets within our solar system and on exoplanets. The candidate will

Develop 1D and 2D energy balance models coupled with models of mantle convection and surface processes to understand the planetary evolution over a large parameter space;
Design and run numerical experiments with 3D climate models of varying degree of complexity to further constrain the parameters of the energy models and understand the characteristics of the planetary atmospheric circulations;
Assist in the development of surface processes modules (e.g., weathering) that serve as key links between interior and climatic evolution.
The candidate will interact closely with the geodynamicists, geochemist, planetary scientists, and fluid dynamicists in the team who are using laboratory experiments and numerical models to study mantle convection, impacts, and weathering.

As a minimum qualification, the candidates are expected to have 

Completed a doctoral degree in geophysics, atmospheric science, planetary science, or a related field at the time of the appointment;
A strong background in numerical analysis and high-performance computing
A strong background in at least one of the following areas: geophysics, atmospheric/climate science, or fluid dynamics;
Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
In addition, the ideal candidate should have

Experience with climate models and in particular, 3D general circulation models (GCMs), and experience with parallel computing.
 Application materials: curriculum vitae with list of publications, a one-page statement of research interests, and contact information of at least 3 references.

The start date is flexible. Send your questions to Prof. Pedram Hassanzadeh (pedram at rice.edu <mailto:pedram at rice.edu>) or Prof. Adrian Lenardic (ajns at rice.edu <mailto:ajns at rice.edu>). Complete application package should be sent as a single pdf file to cleverplanets at rice.edu <mailto:cleverplanets at rice.edu>. 



The CLEVER Planets (http://cleverplanets.org/ <http://cleverplanets.org/>) consists of an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional group of scientists led by Prof. Rajdeep Dasgupta (Rajdeep.Dasgupta at rice.edu <mailto:Rajdeep.Dasgupta at rice.edu>), working to unravel the conditions of planetary habitability in the Solar System and other exoplanetary systems. The overarching theme of our research is to investigate the origin and cycles of life-essential elements in young rocky planets. Based on our understanding of our own solar system and habitable planet Earth, we plan to identify where habitable niches are most likely to occur, which planets are most likely to be habitable and when in their evolutionary history such conditions of habitability are most likely. We are supported by NASA <https://www.nasa.gov/> and are one of teams in the Nexus of Exoplanetary Systems Science (NExSS <https://nexss.info/>) research network.
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