How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Interested candidates should also submit a single PDF containing the following to Prof. Claire Pettersen ([email protected]) and Dr. Aronne Merrelli ([email protected]) no later than November 2, 2026.
- A cover letter summarizing the candidate's experience and a brief description of research interests and successes
- A detailed curriculum vitae, including links to publications, datasets, and code as applicable
- Contact information for two professional references including title, institution, email and phone number
Who We Are
At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement, enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.
The department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering (CLaSP) has a research portfolio that spans climate, space, and planetary science with annual research expenditures of $20 to $30 million. CLaSP offers an exciting research and teaching environment with wide scope and rich expertise within the department as well as diversified interdisciplinary opportunities within the university. The climate research themes in CLaSP cover radiation, climate change, weather and climate modeling, remote sensing, atmospheric dynamics, carbon cycle science, atmospheric chemistry and air pollution, atmosphere-biosphere feedback, aerosol-cloud-climate interactions, as well as cryosphere research.
Job Summary
Professor Claire Pettersen and Dr. Aronne Merrelli in CLaSP are recruiting for a postdoctoral researcher (Research Fellow) position. This is an initial one-year appointment with possibility of renewal, contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of work and the availability of funding. Prof. Pettersen's group performs a variety of research on cold cloud and precipitation processes, by using datasets from satellite, aircraft, and ground-based instrumentation. More details can be found on the group website: https://pettersen.engin.umich.edu/.
The primary research funding is through the NASA Polarized Submillimeter Radiometer (PolSIR) satellite project. PolSIR was selected as part of the Earth Venture Instrument-6 program, and is scheduled to launch in 2027. The PolSIR mission includes two satellites, each with a polarized submillimeter radiometer, in an inclined orbit that allows repeated sampling of Earth's tropics and subtropics. The submillimeter observations are well suited for characterizing tropical ice clouds, and will help reduce key uncertainties in our knowledge of the Earth system. More details about PolSIR may be found at https://www.vanderbilt.edu/polsir/.
The specific project supported in Prof. Pettersen's group involves the development and application of radiative flux products to investigate the radiation and dynamical coupled processes in tropical convective ice clouds. These products will be developed using colocated observations from the Advanced Baseline Imagers aboard the NOAA operational geostationary satellite platforms. The development work will involve coordination with the larger PolSIR team, including the science data operations group at the University of Wisconsin. Science applications will involve collaboration with other members of Prof.Pettersen's research group, as well as the larger PolSIR science team, including researchers at NASA-GSFC, Texas A&M, and Columbia University.
Responsibilities*
The successful candidate will:
- Develop software packages to produce radiative fluxes at co-located to the PolSIR observation times and geometries
- Work closely with the PolSIR Science operations team to validate and monitor radiative flux products
- Use these products to investigate radiative effects of the tropical ice clouds observed by PolSIR
- Lead preparation of scientific manuscripts, conference presentations, software development, software technical documentation, and project reporting.
- Participate in a mentorship of junior researchers, including graduate and undergraduate researchers, and contribute to professional development projects within Dr. Pettersen's research group.
Required Qualifications*
Applicants should have:
- A PhD. in atmospheric science, applied physics, or a closely related field
- Background in atmospheric radiation and passive radiometric remote sensing
- Significant experience in scientific programming in Python, MATLAB, or similar programming environments
- Strong communication skills, and interest in collaborative, team-based research
- Demonstrated ability to to conduct independent research, and prepare technical reports, scientific manuscripts, and conference presentations
Desired Qualifications*
Preferred candidates will have experience in one or more of the following areas:
- High volume datasets and High throughput computing
- Applying machine learning frameworks to satellite datasets
- Cloud computing
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
- Department: Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan
- Start date: Flexible; preferred start date of Dec 1, 2026
- Appointment length: Initial one-year appointment, renewable based on performance for up to an additional two years
- Primary Funding: NASA
- Supervisors: Prof. Claire Pettersen and Dr. Aronne Merrelli, Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Contact Information
For more information or questions please contact either Prof. Claire Pettersen ([email protected]) and Dr. Aronne Merrelli ([email protected]).
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled at any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.