Arshad Arjunan Nair, Research Scientist/PhD, Seeking Faculty Position or Research Leadership Role in Atmospheric/Environmental Science

ARSHAD ARJUNAN NAIR, The State University of New York at Albany

     Abstract Number: 400
     Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers

Abstract
I am an interdisciplinarian, capable of identifying concepts across disciplines and integrating them to address pressing research questions with societal implications. Formally trained as a physicist, I have 14+ years of experience in multidisciplinary scientific research settings, with expertise in the atmospheric sciences (doctoral) and environmental public health (postdoctoral). Currently a Research Scientist at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at the University at Albany, State University of New York, I will be available starting Fall 2026.

My research program aims at a deeper and integrated process-level understanding of the Earth system, consequent climate ↔ air-quality → health interplays and impacts, and with actionable science that bolsters community climate & health resilience. A central theme of my research is the development of computationally efficient, physicochemically grounded machine learning (ML) parameterizations for aerosol microphysics. I have modularized these ML models for use in chemistry and climate models (GEOS-Chem and NASA GISS ModelE 2.1), enhancing their ability to simulate particle number concentrations and cloud condensation nuclei, thereby ameliorating model diversity or uncertainty in indirect forcing estimates. My research also explores new particle formation and the role of ammonia and other precursors in the evolution of aerosol size distributions. Additionally, I conduct data-constrained modeling of aerosol trends and distribution, evaluate satellite and in situ observations, and study aerosol impacts in a changing chemical climate. These activities inform climate--air-quality--health linkages, but my core motivation remains improving the physical understanding and representation of aerosol processes and delineating their impacts.

I am seeking faculty or research scientist positions in aerosol-climate modeling and will be available starting Fall 2026. I am open to roles across academia, government labs, and mission-driven research institutes. My preference is for institutions that value interdisciplinary, high-impact atmospheric science, and where we work collaboratively to deliver innovative solutions for global and community-scale challenges.