Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity: 

Climate and Weather Impacts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 

The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) is seeking candidates for a Postdoctoral Fellow under the Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Program of the Department of Physics as part of the Resilience and ActIon–Climate Research and its Effects on Society (RAICES) program- a partnership between UPRM and the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) in support of convergent weather and climate research in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Sea region. The candidate will work closely with Dr. Giovanni Seijo-Ellis (Physics, UPRM), and Dr. Manuel Valdes Pizzini (Anthropology, UPRM) with opportunities to collaborate with Dr. Héctor Jiménez (Physics, UPRM), Dr. Rosimar Rios-Berrios (NSF NCAR) and Dr. Alexandra Ramos Valle (NSF NCAR). 

The single position is open for proposals in physical and/or the social sciences as they relate to climate and weather impacts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Candidates in the physical sciences (e.g. Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, Physical Oceanography) are invited to submit a short proposal in topics relevant to the region such as but not limited to: 

● Subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) precipitation predictability, novel forecasting capabilities at high resolution, and implications for water resource management and agricultural impacts. 

● Understanding hydrometeorological extremes at local scales: physical processes driving changes to extreme precipitation and drought patterns across time scales. 

● Tropical Cyclone impacts under changing climatic conditions, statistical and/or dynamical downscaling. 

● Changes to- and impacts of- swells associated with remote extra-tropical cyclones under changing climatic conditions. 

Candidates in the social sciences (e.g. Geography, Anthropology, Economics, Sociology) are invited to submit a short proposal in topics relevant to the region such as but not limited to: 

● Identifying socio-economic and other demographic factors contributing to increased weather and climate risks. 

● Scientific needs assessments to improve understanding of risks impacting vulnerable populations under new extremes (heat, precipitation, droughts). 

● Studies addressing observational networks and historical data, their spatial distribution within the context of vulnerable populations and the development of community led observational networks. 

● Developing mitigation, adaptation and planning strategies tailored to the specific needs of vulnerable populations. 

The work is expected to result in at least two peer-reviewed publications. The candidate is expected to collaborate with physical and social scientists at UPRM, NSF NCAR and other partner institutions. Opportunities to engage with undergraduate and graduate students will be available. 

Qualifications 

1. The ideal candidate for a proposal in the physical sciences will: a. Hold a Ph.D. in Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Science, Physical Oceanography, Environmental Sciences, or other relevant fields. 

b. Demonstrate experience in studying dynamical processes relevant weather and climate phenomena in tropical regions and their impacts. 

c. Demonstrate willingness to learn about the societal implications of weather and climate phenomena as well as pathways for adaptation and mitigation. 

2. The ideal candidate for a proposal in the social sciences will: a. Hold a Ph.D. in Social Sciences, Sociology, Economics, Geography, Anthropology, or other relevant fields. 

b. Demonstrate experience in studying societal impacts of weather and climate hazards. 

c. Demonstrate willingness to learn about the physical processes driving weather and climate hazards. 

3. Candidates should have at least two first authored peer-reviewed publications at the moment of hiring. 

4. Candidates should exhibit excellent analytical and scientific communication skills with ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences. 

This is an in-person, full-time postdoctoral fellow position at UPRM. Hybrid work arrangements could be also considered for exceptional cases. The starting salary will be $60,000.00 with benefits, including healthcare. The term of the position is for two years. The candidate is expected to start in January 2026. 

INTERESTED CANDIDATES: 

Email Dr. Giovanni Seijo (giovanni.seijo@upr.edu) and Dr. Manuel Valdes Pizzini (manuel.valdes@upr.edu) with the following documents: 

1. Personal and Research statement (max 3-pages) describing your qualifications, personal and professional goals, and a short research proposal. The research proposal can be based on one of the suggested topics above or other relevant topics. Include your contact information: e-mail, postal address and phone number. 

2. Curriculum Vitae 

3. Names and contact information for three references (Including the applicant’s Ph.D. advisor). 

Please use the subject line “Postdoc Fellow - RAICES ”. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until November 10th, 2025 or until the position is filled.