Post-Doctoral Research Associate

OUR STATEMENT

The San Jose State University Research Foundation (SJSURF) is committed to building a work environment where everyone can show up as their own self and have an opportunity to contribute, develop, and advance in their career. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are core values of the organization. We strive to attract, retain, and develop employees who reflect the community and society where we work and live.

The Research Foundation aims to develop a culture where everyone feels welcome, shares their views, and where differences in backgrounds and perspectives are seen as adding value.

The Radar Meteorologist (Post-Doctoral Researcher) will support the NASA INSPYRE field campaign, which aims to improve scientific understanding of pyro-cumulus (pyro

Cu) and pyro-cumulonimbus (pyro

Cb) dynamics associated with active wildfires. This position focuses on deploying and operating advanced mobile radar platforms in challenging wildfire environments and leading scientific analysis of radar observations.

The successful candidate will play a central role in coordinating field operations, managing radar instrumentation, and conducting advanced data analysis to investigate fire-induced atmospheric processes. The appointment is for up to two years.

1) Lead field deployments of WIRC's mobile radar systems, including:

• Doppler Ka-band radar
• Doppler X-band radar
• G-band radar

2) Coordinate logistics and on-site operations for radar deployments to active wildfire locations.

3) Ensure safe and effective operation of mobile radar platforms in dynamic and potentially hazardous fire-line environments.

4) Conduct high-quality data collection during wildfire events, ensuring proper calibration, operation, and troubleshooting of radar systems.

5) Lead scientific analysis of radar datasets to address key research questions related to pyro

Cu and pyro

Cb dynamics, including:

• Fire-induced wind fields
• Plume dynamics and structure
• Hydro- and pyrometeor size distributions
• Characterization using dual-frequency ratios
• Polarimetric observations to isolate hydro- and pyro-meteor distributions within plume and cloud systems

6) Contribute to scientific reporting, manuscript preparation, and presentation of results at conferences and technical meetings.

7) Maintain compliance with safety standards and complete required wildfire and vehicle safety certifications.

8) Other duties as assigned.

1) Reports to the project director.

2) Frequently interacts and collaborates with interdisciplinary research teams, including NASA scientists and campaign partners.

None.

• Ph.D. in Meteorology or a closely related field.
• Experience in deploying mobile radar platforms.
• Experience in radar data analysis.

• Pythin programming and analysis of polarimetric radar data.

• Ability to work in physically demanding and potentially hazardous wildfire environments.
• Ability to become fire-line qualified by passing basic firefighter (FF2) training.
• Ability to pass the Arduous Pack Test for obtaining a Red Card.
• This position performs duties with limited supervision and exercises independent judgment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the SJSURF. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current SJSURF employees who apply for the position.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant.

$72,000-$82,000 annually, DOQ/E

Exempt, Benefited

The SJSURF provides an excellent benefits package to benefited employees. The comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Four company health insurance plans to choose from (employee contributions differ according to plan and level of coverage).
• Employer-paid dental and vision for both employee and eligible dependents.
• Life, AD&D, LTD with supplemental coverage opportunities.
• 14 paid federal & state holidays.
• Retirement Plan: 403(b) employee contribution plan component and a 403(b) employer contribution component, which vests immediately.
• Vacation-hour accruals and separate sick-hour accumulations.
• Employee discounts.
• Paid training and professional-development conferences.

Please visit the Benefits & Compensation page on the SJSURF website for more detailed information.

The SJSURF is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with physical or mental disabilities in the employment, recruitment, examination, interviewing, and hiring processes. If you are a job…