Oil Spill Hydrodynamic Modeler

Oil Spill Hydrodynamic Modeler

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) is seeking a hydrodynamic modeler to work with the physical modeling team at CIGLR and the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) to conduct research on Great Lakes oil spill transport and fate. The research will utilize a state-of-art oil spill transport model, which will be forced by high-resolution hydrodynamic-ice model outputs. The research will evaluate the applicability of the existing oil spill transport models to the Great Lakes freshwater environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead in research to verify lake surface current simulations from NOAA's Great Lakes Operational Forecast System using multiple approaches, including comparing model outputs with available observation datasets (e.g., drifter buoys).

• Design and conduct oil spill transport model simulations for select scenarios based on the General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME).

• Evaluate GNOME for application to the freshwater environment in the Great Lakes and identify gaps for predicting oil spill trajectories in different freshwater conditions (e.g., open water or ice-covered).

• Attend regular project meetings and present research progress. Lead in writing reporting materials.

• Present research findings at scientific conferences, and lead in developing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

• Required Qualifications

• A PhD degree in physical oceanography, coastal engineering, or a similar field.

• Proficiency with data analysis and visualization in a scripting environment using R, Python, or similar software.

• Extensive experience with common geophysical data formants, such as CSV, NetCDF, and Grib2.

• Six years of experience with Linux or Unix-based computing environments.

• Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off

• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting

• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance

• Life insurance

• Long-term disability coverage

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

• Modes of Work

• Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

• Additional Information

• This position is open only to US Citizens or permanent residents due to federal security clearance required for access to NOAA GLERL facilities and resources.

• Term Limited Appointment: This is a one (1) year term limited appointment, with an opportunity for extension based on funding and performance.

• Application Deadline

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

• Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

• U-M EEO Statement

• The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

• Job Detail

• Job Opening ID

• 284311

• Working Title

• Oil Spill Hydrodynamic Modeler

• Job Title

• Research Lab Specialist Senior

• Work Location

• Ann Arbor Campus

• Ann Arbor, MI

• Modes of Work

• Mobile/Remote

• Full/Part Time

• Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary

• Regular

• FLSA Status

• Exempt

• Organizational Group

• School Nat Res Envir

• Department

• SEAS CIGLR

• Posting Begin/End Date

• 10/13/2026 - 10/20/2026

• Career Interest

• Research