Applied Climatologist

North Carolina is especially prone to the impacts of a warming climate, including sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and hotter temperatures. The State Climate Office of North Carolina was established in 1976, originally at UNC-Chapel Hill, and moved to NC State University in 1980. The mission of the State Climate Office (SCO) is to provide climate related services to the state, local and federal agencies, businesses and the citizens of North Carolina. In 1998, the UNC Board of Governors formally approved it as a Public Service Center.

The State Climate Office is located on NC State University’s Centennial Campus, where private industries, government agencies, and University researchers come together and create a unique environment for interaction and advancement. The State Climate Office is a part of the College of Sciences, and collaborates closely with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The State Climate Office is actively involved in research that enhances its capabilities to provide public service. The office specializes in research, monitoring, and education for climate-sensitive sectors across the state. North Carolina is at the frontline of climate change resilience, and the office is engaged in research projects that help North Carolinians understand their climate risk and adaptive capacity. The office has seen steady growth over the past decade, and receives funding from state and federal agencies. Additionally, the office runs the North Carolina ECONet, a network of 43 research-grade stations located statewide. The office hopes to place one station in each North Carolina county by 2030.

• The Applied Climatologist will support the State Climate Office’s (SCO) public service mission by collaborating with other scientists on research, outreach, and extension.

• This position will mainly support grant-funded projects, including federally and state-funded climate decision support systems for planners and resource managers. This position will also contribute to original research and will collaborate with other scientists to write peer-reviewed papers and other reports and white papers.

• This position will work with the SCO team to visualize data using various media (e.g., online tool, reports).

• The candidate will also support the office’s climate outreach activities, which includes public presentations, events, and workshops. This position is mainly funded through federal and state research grants, and that represents the bulk of the work for this position. However, each SCO team member gets some flexibility and time to pursue research and projects that interest them to support their professional development.

• Inclusiveness and diversity are critical to the success of the State Climate Office, College of Sciences, and the University. The selected candidate will be expected to foster an environment that is supportive and welcoming of all groups.

• Additional work expectations include a willingness to think creatively to pursue new research directions and to contribute to general office tasks, including light website updating, meetings, webinars, and trainings.

• Additional duties as assigned.

• Require post-baccalaureate credentials or a bachelor’s degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience.

• Successful candidates should have proven experience working with observed and modeled climate data, including downscaled climate projections (e.g., MACA, LOCA).
• Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of appropriate use of observed and modeled climate data.
• This position requires strong analytical skills and programming proficiency in R, Matlab, or Python.
• Candidates should have strong written and oral communication skills.
• Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to learning about and understanding the climate of North Carolina, though prior experience in the state is not necessary
• This position will represent the State Climate Office in meetings and workshops, often as the sole climate subject matter expert.
• Successful candidates should feel comfortable representing SCO in a professional and scientific manner at meetings.

• Master’s degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, Geography, Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, Agriculture and Soil Sciences, or a related field plus three years experience working in climate or weather.

• Previous experience in climate communication and outreach is a plus. Expertise in extreme heat or inland flooding is also desirable.