NSF Postdoctoral Fellow - Numerical Modeling of Thermo-chemical Convection in 
Earth’s Core and Implications for Geodynamo Evolution

Link: https://apply.interfolio.com/142110

The Earth and Planets Laboratory (EPL), Carnegie Institution for Science, seeks 
applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to investigate numerical modeling of 
thermo-chemical convection in Earth’s core and implications for geodynamo 
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 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 may have contributed to the evolution of 
Earth’s magnetic field. The candidate will run 3D dynamo models using newly 
developed features in the Computational Infrastructure for Geodynamics (CIG) 
sponsored code Rayleigh that allow temperature and chemistry to be linked at the 
inner-core boundary. The study and resulting publications will be done in direct 
collaboration with Drs. Peter Driscoll (EPL) and Cian Wilson (EPL). Collaboration 
with other members of CIG and the Rayleigh development team working on related 
topics is also anticipated. The candidate will be given access to Carnegie’s high 
performance computational facilities.

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

Desired qualifications: Familiarity with numerical modeling of rotating 
convection is desirable, and experience with spectral or pseudo-spectral 
numerical modeling software is a bonus.

The application deadline is April 1, 2024. The appointment is for one year. An 
extension is possible depending on the availability of funding. 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 submit an application, 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.