Postdoctoral Fellow - Numerical Modeling of Thermo-chemical Convection in Earth’s Core

The Earth and Planets Laboratory (EPL), a division of the Carnegie Institution for Science, seeks applications for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to investigate numerical modeling of thermo-chemical convection in Earth’s core and its implications for geomagnetic field evolution. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community at the Carnegie Institution for Science. We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from under-represented groups and backgrounds to apply.

The position is part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program “Numerical Modeling of Thermo-chemical Convection in Earth’s Core and Implications for Geodynamo Evolution” (Award # 2200322) to investigate convection in a rotating spherical shell driven by coupled thermal and chemical buoyancy sources. The broader goal is to understand how the interactions between these sources have controlled the evolution of Earth’s magnetic field, which is thought to be critical to shielding Earth from harmful high-energy particles. The candidate will perform 3D dynamo simulations of Earth’s outer core using newly developed features in the code Rayleigh that allow temperature and chemistry to be linked at the inner-core boundary.

Minimum qualifications: The applicant must have completed a doctoral degree in geophysics, physics, planetary science, computational fluid dynamics, or a related field at the time of appointment. The candidate should have experience in computational fluid dynamics and programming proficiency in python.

Desired qualifications: Familiarity with numerical modeling of rotating convection is desirable, and experience with fluid dynamos is a bonus. Experience developing or debugging software written in Fortran, or a related programming language, would be a benefit.

The application deadline is November 15, 2024. Initial appointment is one year, subject to renewal for an additional year based on performance. The position will be based at the Broad Branch Road campus of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC. This is an FLSA Exempt position. Interested parties should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae (including publications), statement of research interests, and contact information for three references. Please contact Peter Driscoll at pdriscoll@carnegiescience.edu with any questions.

To apply, click here. Only complete applications submitted via the Carnegie website will be considered.

The Carnegie Institution is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.