Several positions available spanning Glacier-Ice/Ocean Interactions

Alaska and Greenland: Investigating processes that influence submarine ice-melt at the ocean interface of tidewater glaciers

Pending funding: Antarctic Ice Shelf Dynamics

Position:

Full-time 12-month (extendable to 24 or more) Postdoctoral Scholar position located in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

The successful applicant will join this team of oceanographers and glaciologists studying the dynamics of ice melt at tidewater glacier interfaces. For applicants with the right background, this might be coupled with work on Antarctic ice shelves (pending funding).

Recent field measurements and laboratory studies by our group reveal new details of the ice-melt process that are not represented within the current generation of melt models.   While we have gained considerable insight from these data, we still lack the necessary information to know how to reconcile melt models and observations. We seek a postdoctoral researcher to join our team with strengths in interpreting observations through theory and/or modeling.

Possible directions for exploration include understanding the influence of:

• ice morphology on near-glacier flow circulation patterns

• bubbles trapped in the ice on heat exchange at the ice-ocean interface

• oscillatory flow and unsteady eddies on the mixing of heat at the ice-ocean interface

• pending funding, other directions such as calving dynamics and ice shelf flow and fracture may be possible.

The postdocs will work under the mentorship of Principal Investigators of Dr. Jonathan Nash, Dr. Meagan Wengrove, and Dr. Erin Pettit (each post doc will have a primary supervisor depending on their field of expertise).

The positions are renewable for a second year, so long as the postdoctoral scholar remains within five years from receipt of their doctoral degree*; reappointment depends on performance and continued funding availability and is at the discretion of the Principal Investigator and the OSU Office of Postdoctoral Programs. Stipend and benefits conform with postdoctoral scholar standards at OSU (http:// gradschool.oregonstate.edu/postdocs).

Responsibilities:

The successful applicant will lead specific components of larger research projects; collaborate to design field data collection strategies (there is likely opportunity participate in field work**); process, analyze, and archive data; communicate research findings; prepare research manuscripts for peer-reviewed journal publications; present research at scientific conferences and public outreach events; develop and assist with writing grant proposals; assist in the training of undergraduate and graduate students in thesis or dissertation preparation, research methods, and computational/mathematical methods; and collaborate with other members of the OSU team and the international project teams. Up to 15% of the time may be used for professional development activities.

Required Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Physics, Oceanography, Geosciences, Computational Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, or a similar field.

• Experience with one or more of the following topics: ice-ocean melt physics, nearshore processes, environmental fluid mechanics, sediment dynamics, glacier dynamics.

• For oceanography candidates, experience with CFD, DNS, and/or LES numerical modeling is valued, but not required.

• For glaciology candidates, experience with various approaches to process-based modeling (FEM, DEM, etc) and/or ice sheet modeling is valued, but not required.

• Experience with field data collection methods and analysis in oceanography or glaciology is valued.

• Strong communication skills and a desire to work as part of a scientifically diverse team.

Preferred Qualifications:

While there is some flexibility to design the post-doc's activities towards their area of expertise, a background in ice/ocean interactions, radar or seismic signal processing, and field experience in a polar environment.  We highly encourage applicants from under-tapped groups.

Position Available:

Start date ideally this fall, to be determined by agreement with PI.

Application:

Please contact us for further information and to express interest.
For full consideration, apply by August 20, 2025. Applicants must send: (1) a cover letter describing academic experience, qualification; and interest in the position; (2) a curriculum vitae, including current employment and contact information; (3) undergraduate and graduate transcripts; (4) names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references; and (5) reprints/ preprints of representative publications.

Application materials should be addressed to Drs Nash, Wengrove, and/or Pettit and uploaded as single pdf here:

Oregon State University is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.

* If you are close to or beyond the five-year limit for OSU’s postdoctoral scholar program, please apply anyway and submit a question through the link above for more information. There are alternative mechanisms for you to be hired as a post doctoral researcher if you are selected as the best candidate.

** While these projects may involve field work, not all post docs will participate and the ability to go to the field is not required (we encourage all to apply).