Postdoctoral Research Associate: Explainable AI & Climate Extremes

The University of Virginia's (UVA) Environmental Institute (EI) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support its interdisciplinary Explainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Climate Extremes Project.

The research project seeks to develop a rapid and scalable Climate Attribution AI framework that employs multimodal AI models and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to generate dynamically consistent counterfactual scenarios for extreme real-world weather events. The project will produce new explainable frameworks that work for precipitation prediction, provide real-time attribution for precipitation extremes and focus on both the intensity and frequency of these events under various levels of global warming. The overarching goal of our framework is to yield faster, more interpretable attribution assessments, while delivering actionable insights for policymakers and aiding communities in building resilience to climate impacts.

The selected candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team of faculty mentors and researchers deploying novel research at the intersection of AI, explainability, and climate science.

Eligibility and Selection Process:

General Expectations

• Applicants must have received or will receive their doctoral degree by the beginning of their appointment; we prefer candidates who have received their degree within five years prior to the start of the appointment.

• There is no citizenship requirement.UVA will help sponsor candidate visas covering the duration of the postdoc.

• The successful Postdoctoral Research Associate will be appointed for one year with the possibility of second year funding, contingent on the successful completion of a first-year performance evaluation.

• Applicants seeking to be considered for the Postdoctoral Research Associate role for this project will be evaluated on three main criteria: the strength of their research. their ability to collaborate across disciplines; and their commitment to finding equitable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Project-Specific Competencies

The ideal postdoc will possess expertise in climate science, machine learning, multimodal AI models and deep learning for geoscience applications, along with experience in explainable AI methods.

Specifically:

• AI and Machine Learning Expertise: Solid background in AI, especially in CNNs, transformers, and generative models like GANs, and StyleGAN; adept in neural network design and multimodal and time series data; and some experience in explainable artificial intelligence (XAI)

• Climate Science Passion: A passion for climate science and for addressing climate change impacts. A climate science background is not necessary but is a plus.

• Data Analysis Proficiency: Skilled in large dataset management and analysis (familiarity with large climatic datasets like CMIP6 data is a plus); statistical expertise in assessing AI model performance.

• Programming Skills: Strong in programming (Python), with experience in TensorFlow or PyTorch; comfortable using high-performance computing and cloud services.

• Methodological Rigor: Capable of designing and validating rigorous experiments; troubleshooting and refining models through feedback.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Experience working in interdisciplinary settings and translating complex AI concepts for diverse audiences.

• Innovation and Adaptability: Creative in problem-solving, capable of pioneering new methods, and thriving in a fast-paced research environment.

• Commitment to Knowledge Transfer: Dedicated to sharing research outcomes, educating others, and mentoring students with strong pedagogic skills.

• Excellent presentation skills (writing and oral): Highly experienced in publishing research work in recognized scientific journals, giving presentations in scientific conferences etc.

The EI Postdoc Model

Once selected, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will join a cohort of other Climate Fellows Program postdocs at UVA and will receive professional training, technical support, and computational infrastructure tailored to their project, for two (2) years. The postdoc will receive direct mentoring from at least two UVA faculty members in different disciplines to help them build cross-disciplinary fluency in support of their own research. They will join a network of faculty members from 30 departments in 12 schools across UVA focused on producing research and providing training that is both great and good at the intersection of climate change and human well-being.

Starting salary: $69,000/year

Research Funds: $5,000/year

We partner with the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, UVA's Career Center, and staff across the university to provide career development and extracurricular opportunities to student and postdoctoral faculty.

About the Institute:

The UVA Environmental Institute is the hub of interdisciplinary environmental research at the university. We provide seed funding, research experiences, and training to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students from the university's 12 schools. With a focus on impactful research, the Institute and its collaborators are committed to our mission to support interdisciplinary research and training that is both great and good at the intersection of climate change and human well-being, while ensuring that the full spectrum of human attributes, perspectives, identities, backgrounds, and disciplines is represented and making an explicit effort to diversify voices in finding equitable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

The University of Virginia is rated as one of the top three public universities in the nation and in the top 30 among all universities, public and private. Charlottesville is frequently cited as one of the best cities in which to live and work. The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

To Apply:

External Applicants: Apply online, and search for 'R0069112.' Complete an application online and attach the following:

• CV/Resume

• Cover Letter, describing your research interest and how it aligns with the project.

• Personal Statement (highly encouraged but not required): use this statement to reflect on your academic and research trajectory.

• Contact information for three (3) references (name, email, telephone, and address).

Internal UVA Applicants: Please apply through your Workday Home page, search "Find UVA Jobs" and search for R0069112.

Application Timeline:

• Application Opens: January 22, 2025

• Early application reviews will begin after February 20, 2025

For questions about the position, please contact Henry Boachi, Program Manager, at henryb@virginia.edu.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Jessica Speth, Academic Recruiter, at js9rk@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.