Special Information

• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.

About the Department/College

Join an exciting Northern Arizona University research team (https://gurneylab.nau.edu/) in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona doing cutting-edge research on quantifying GHG and local air pollution emissions at multiple scales from the building to the globe. This research uses existing systems (Vulcan - https://vulcan.rc.nau.edu/ and Hestia – https://hestia.rc.nau.edu) developed in the Gurney Lab over the past 20 years.

About the Position

This postdoctoral position will focus on very high-resolution GHG, AQ, and anthropogenic heat emissions quantification in urban areas of the US associated with a large DOE urban effort (Urban Integrated Field Laboratories). The work includes both technical challenges and the need for engagement in target cities with data providers, stakeholders, and city officials. We are currently working in the urban areas of Baltimore, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Indianapolis but will be adding multiple new urban domains (e.g., Chicago, Houston).

Job duties include data collection on emitting assets, developing/improving model systems for flux estimation, and coding within the existing Vulcan/Hestia software to deploy the flux estimation. Postdoctoral scientist will be responsible for an asset-level and gridded inventory output (in conjunction with the existing Vulcan/Hestia systems output) and will also supervise a graduate student in assisting in all aspects of the project. The applicant will be expected to publish peer-reviewed journal articles and work in a team environment, effectively communicating with the research team.

Responsibilities Include

50% - Data Collection and Model Development

• Data collection on emitting assets, development and improvement of model systems for flux estimation, and coding within existing Vulcan/Hestia software frameworks.

40% - Emissions Quantification

• High-resolution quantification of greenhouse gases (GHG), air quality (AQ) emissions, and anthropogenic heat emissions.

5% - Student Supervision

• Supervision and mentoring of a graduate student.
• 5% - Other
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Candidates must have received a PhD in a field related to the positions (spanning Informatics, Civil Engineering, Urban Science, Ecological/Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Science, Data Science, Geography) from an accredited college or university.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience working with GHG flux reporting/quantification and analysis.
• Carbon accounting/footprinting experience particularly in urban environments.
• Large code base development, flux modeling, experience with infrastructure/energy data.
• Knowledge of bottom-up effort in GHG quantification.
• Machine learning experience is also highly desired as some of the research is increasingly utilizing AI/ML.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Given the multidisciplinary nature of the research, a highly self-directed, creative and self-motivated individual is sought.
• Knowledge of the use of laboratory/field instruments and tools.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of the subject disciplines.

Skills

• Organizational and project management skills.
• Leadership, coordination, and/or supervision skills.
• Data collection, processing and analysis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Abilities

• Highly motivated to perform research in a collaborative environment.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.

Compensation

Salary range is $58,882 to $73,434. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.