Postdoctoral fellowships available: NOAA pilot project for an 
International
Research Institute for Climate Prediction
Deadline for applications is 1 April

Under the sponsorship of the NOAA Office of Global Programs, UCAR 
is offering two research fellowships at the Scripps Institution of 
Oceanography.  The fellowships are in support of a pilot project 
designed to demonstrate the operating concepts of an International 
Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRICP), now in the planning 
stages.

While international arrangements are under way, NOAA is 
conducting a pilot project that will provide experience and products 
useful in implementing the institute.  The fundamental goal of the 
IRICP, as it is currently envisioned, is to provide experimental forecasts 
of seasonal to interannual climate variability on a routine and 
systematic basis to participating countries and regions. They will, in 
turn, tune the forecasts for their region and create information 
products useful to local decision makers.  The IRICP concept includes a 
network of research centers focused on the development of improved 
coupled predictive models and algorithms.  One center would have 
unique responsibility for producing experimental forecasts and 
disseminating products for forecast guidance and analysis to 
applications centers in participating countries and regions.

The fellowships are designed to support the research and development 
efforts of the pilot project.  Specifically, the fellows will

	conduct an intercomparison of currently 			
	available coupled atmosphere-ocean global 		
	circulation models to evaluate their relative 		
	predictive skill, and

	gain practical experience in the design and 			
	configuration of a model development effort 			with 
emphasis on data acquisition, model 			
	initialization, and forecast preparation.

The fellows will work under the guidance of a principal investigator 
for a period of up to two years.  The fellows would be considered for 
participation in an IRICP, should it be established.

The fellowship award includes an annual salary of $34,000 and a 
generous benefits package.  Fellows also receive some funds for 
relocation and scientific travel.

To apply send a cover letter, vita, list of publications, and the names 
and addresses of four professional references.  A clear indication of 
scientific interests is particularly important.  The applicant should 
submit an abstract describing the goals, approach, and results of his or 
her Ph.D. thesis.  It is the applicantŐs responsibility to see that letters of 
reference are submitted to UCAR by the application deadline.  
Applications must be received by 1 April.  For further information, see 
page 11. UCAR is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.