Postdoctoral Positions at PRECISE Lab, Tsinghua University

The PRECISE Lab (Precipitation Research on Extremes, Climate Variability, Impacts, and Societal Engagement), led by Dr. Wenhao Dong at the Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, is seeking to recruit 3–4 postdoctoral researchers. Exceptional young scholars from around the world are encouraged to join our team in advancing frontier research.

01 Research Directions

We welcome candidates interested in the following broad themes (the specific focus and methodologies can be further refined in discussion with the PI):

Theme 1: Multi-timescale precipitation variability and extremes

Objective: To understand precipitation variations across different timescales and their influence on extreme events and long-term trends.

Theme 2: Climate and future response of major precipitating systems

Objective: To characterize the occurrence, development, dynamics, and climate response of major precipitation-producing systems (e.g., mesoscale convective systems, atmospheric rivers, monsoon lows, tropical cyclones, etc.) and assess their contribution to regional water resources and hazards.

Theme 3: Compound extreme events and societal resilience

Objective: To investigate interactions between precipitation extremes and other hazards (e.g., heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, etc.), develop compound event frameworks, analyze co-occurrence drivers, and evaluate their risks and challenges for societal resilience.

02 Qualifications

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

(1)Applicants should be under 35 years of age and hold a Ph.D. degree in atmospheric science, meteorology, earth science, environmental science, or a related discipline;

(2)Have a solid research foundation and strong skills in academic writing (in both Chinese and English);

(3)Possess strong data analysis and programming abilities; experience in big data analysis, regional modeling, or climate model simulations is preferred;

(4)Demonstrate academic ambition and vision, independence in research, and strong teamwork skills;

(5)Capable of supporting the PI in managing major research projects, while also contributing to Ph.D. student supervision; expected to be proactive, responsible, and highly effective in execution.

03 Compensation & Benefits

(1)Salary and benefits are provided in accordance with national and Tsinghua University postdoctoral policies, with excellent research facilities and stable funding support;

(2)Postdoctoral apartments are available for rent; assistance is provided for children’s kindergarten and school enrollment; postdocs enjoy social insurance, housing fund benefits, and household registration policies as stipulated by Tsinghua University and the National Postdoctoral Management Committee;

(3)Postdocs are encouraged and supported to apply for national and university-level fellowship programs.

04 Application Procedure

Applicants should submit the following materials to wenhao@tsinghua.edu.cn with the subject line: “Name – Research Theme – Postdoctoral Application.” All application materials should be combined into a single PDF file and include: (1) A detailed curriculum vitae (including education background, work experience, and a full publication list); (2) Copies of degree certificates and other supporting documents; (3) Contact information for two referees (name, phone number and/or email address).

The position will remain open until filled. Shortlisted candidates will be notified for an interview; applicants not selected for interview will not be contacted further (application materials will not be returned). Due to capacity limitations, in-person visits without prior arrangement cannot be accommodated.

05 Reference

(1)Dr. Wenhao Dong is an Assistant Professor and Ph.D. supervisor at the Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University. He is a recipient of a National Youth Talent Program. Dr. Dong received his B.S. degree from Wuhan University (2012) and his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Tsinghua University (2018). From 2018 to 2021, he conducted postdoctoral research at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), later becoming a project scientist and obtaining a tenured position in 2024.

His research focuses on precipitation variability across scales, its response to global warming, and its societal impacts. His expertise spans global climate models, storm-resolving models, regional climate modeling and attribution, compound extreme events, weather system tracking algorithms, and applications of machine learning in weather and climate analysis.

Dr. Dong’s work has been published in Science Advances, Nature Communications, AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, and other leading journals. He currently serves as Associate Editor for Geophysical Research Letters and Journal of Climate.

Personal homepage:

http://faculty.dess.tsinghua.edu.cn/dongwenhao/zh_CN/index.htm;

(2)Postdoctoral policies (China)

http://www.chinapostdoctor.org.cn;

(3)Postdoctoral policies (Tsinghua):

http://postdoctor.tsinghua.edu.cn.