Part-Time Project Scientist
The University of California, Los Angeles
About this position
Position Overview
Position title: Project Scientist Salary range: $107,700 - $201,900 The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 37B- Represented Project (e.g., Scientist) Series- FY. The salary range for this position is $107,700 - $201,900. “Off-scale salaries”, i.e. a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. Review timeline: 05/01/26 - 05/31/2026
Application Deadline
Open date: May 1, 2026 Next review date:Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. Final date: Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.
Position Description
The UCLA Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE) invites applications for a position of Part-Time Project Scientist (10% FTE) whose research will focus on aerosols, clouds, trace gases, moisture, pollution transport, and their impacts on weather, climate, and Earth-system processes. Research activities may include: • Analysis of satellite and/or in situ observations of aerosols, clouds, trace gases, water vapor, and pollution transport • Evaluation of regional and global climate or chemistry-climate models using observational constraints • Development and application of model diagnostics, satellite simulators, radiative-transfer tools, or data-analysis methods for aerosol, cloud, and atmospheric-composition studies • Studies of aerosol-cloud-climate interactions and their implications for regional and global climate variability and change • Support for interdisciplinary research connecting Earth observations, climate modeling, and future satellite mission concepts • Where appropriate, exploration of comparative atmospheric-science approaches that use Earth as a reference system for understanding planetary and exoplanet atmospheres
Qualifications
Basic qualificationsBasic qualifications (required at time of application): • Doctorate degree in Earth science, atmospheric science, physics, or a closely related field • Minimum of five years of research experience in atmospheric science, climate science, remote sensing, or related fields • Demonstrated experience in atmospheric science, including remote sensing of aerosols, clouds, moisture, radiation, or climate processes • Extensive experience analyzing satellite observations of atmospheric composition, clouds, aerosols, water vapor, or related climate variables • Experience with numerical modeling, model evaluation, or climate data analysis using regional or global models, such as WRF, WRF-Chem, CESM, or comparable modeling systems • Strong written and verbal communication skills
Application Requirements
Document requirementsCurriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. Cover Letter (Optional) Statement of Research Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education. The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows: Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles Expand our reach as a global university Enhance our research and creative activities Elevate how we teach Become a more effective institution Prompt for candidates for recruitment: Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service Statement of Teaching (Optional) Reference requirements n/a Apply link:https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF11011 Help contact:tle@jifresse.ucla.edu