Job Details

CIRES/ Chu Research Group Winter-Over Lidar Technician (Antarctica) PRA

Position Number: 6776122
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

CIRES/ Chu Research Group Winter-Over Lidar Technician (Antarctica) PRA

Requisition Number: 68949
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 10-Dec-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Chu Research Group, at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) within CU Boulder, welcomes applications for a Professional Research Assistant (PRA) who will work as a Winter-Over Lidar Technician at McMurdo, Antarctica. The Winter-Over Lidar Technician will conduct about 8-10 months of continuous deployment to Antarctica. The successful candidate will work with a Winter-Over Team Leader to make lidar observations year-round at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The selected finalist will be required to pass the NSF Antarctic physical qualification (PQ) processes in order to work in Antarctica.

The Chu Research Group explores advanced spectroscopy principles, develops new lidar technologies, studies the fundamental physical and chemical processes that govern the whole atmosphere, and makes new discoveries in the atmosphere-space sciences. This is an opportunity for one to contribute to the Chu Research Group and to a legendary lidar field-research campaign as a winter-over technician in Antarctica.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The Chu Research Group explores advanced spectroscopy principles, develops new lidar technologies, studies the fundamental physical and chemical processes that govern the whole atmosphere, and makes new discoveries in the atmosphere-space sciences. This group has been at the forefront of lidar studies of the middle-upper atmosphere and near-space environment as well as lidar technology innovations.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Antarctic deployment to McMurdo Station from late 2025/early 2026 to August/October 2026 (depending on NSF approval), where the successful candidate will work with a Winter-Over Team Leader to make extensive lidar observations.

Conduct lidar system operation and maintenance as well as participate in logistics at McMurdo Station. 65%
Conduct lidar data analysis and participate in scientific investigations and publications. 30%
Participate in and contribute to outreach activities. 5%

What You Should Know

The final candidate is subject to the NSF Antarctic physical qualification (PQ) processes.
The start date is expected to be no later than January 1, 2026.
Current funding for this position is through August 31, 2026, but there is a possibility of extension contingent on additional funding being received.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
The annual hiring salary for this position is $47,652 - $59,565. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
The travel costs from Antarctica will be covered.
CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development and a Mentorship Program.
Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues.
As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be brilliant. Be unique. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor of Science degree in atmospheric sciences, aerospace engineering sciences, physics, laser spectroscopy, optical or electrical engineering, or other relevant fields.
Ability to work in Antarctica uninterrupted for 8-10 months.
All candidates are subject to the NSF Antarctic Physical Qualification (PQ) processes for working in Antarctica.
Experience working in Antarctica and familiarity with Arrival Heights Lidar Lab.
Strong hands-on experience with engineering projects, mechanical components, or optical/photonic equipment.
Experience handling logistics for technical projects.

What You Will Need

Prior training with the on-ice lidar team to gain lidar knowledge and skills.
Strong commitment to Antarctica lidar observations and proven mentality and work ethics for conducting lab experiments and observational research.
Physical and mental fortitude to handle lidar work independently in Antarctica.
Engineering skills and knowledge of instrumentation.
Skills in programming languages of MATLAB, LabVIEW, R, C++, or Python for data retrieval, analysis, or simulation.
Stable and logical workstyle, even under pressure.
A strong commitment to teamwork and proactive communication combined with high work ethics and standards.
Ability to work long or unusual hours to collect data during clear sky windows.
Ability to pass a test on lidar basics.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV.
Cover letter briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
If you are identified as a finalist, the search committee will request one letter recommendation at a later time.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

This position will close December 10, 2025.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/CIRES-Chu-Research-Group-Winter-Over-Lidar-Technician-Antarctica-PRA/68949