PhD position: Atmospheric water transport in a changing climate

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD research fellowship position on transport modelling and climate studies at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) in association with the Department of Geosciences at the University of Oslo (Norway) or the Geophysical Institute of the University of Bergen (Norway).

The Arctic is warming faster than the global average (Arctic amplification). The mechanisms leading to this warming are not fully understood. In the course of this work we will investigate the role of the atmospheric transport of heat and moisture in the observed warming.

The FLEXPART group is part of the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Research (ATMOS) of NILU and focuses on the development and maintenance of the Lagrangian Transport Model FLEXPART (flexpart.eu). Our research has as one of its focus areas the understanding of transport of pollutants to the Arctic. In addition, we are addressing the transport of physical properties such as moisture and water content in air. For the latter, a strong collaboration with groups running the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM) has been established and will be relevant in the PhD project. The successful candidate will contribute to the following activities, although the precise tasks can be discussed further depending of the candidate’s interstests:

Tasks/activities:

• Establishing climatologies of moisture transport in past and future climates
• Investigating of heat transport into high latitudes and the Arctic
• Modelling and model development with FLEXPART
• Scientific data analysis, interpretation and publication of results

The following requirements of the applicant are essential:

• MSc degree or equivalent in geoscience, physics, or environmental sciences 
• Strong programming skills (Fortran)
• Data analysis skills (Python, R, Matlab)
• Excellent knowledge of English

The application must include:

• Application letter including a statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates including grades 
• Names and contact details of 3 referees

We advise foreign applicants to attach an explanation of their University’s grading system.

The candidate’s research activities will be based at NILU in Kjeller, about 20 km outside Oslo. As the fellowship requires admission to the PhD program at a Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the formal PhD program will be appointed to the University of Oslo or the University of Bergen. 

What we offer:

• International environment with professional and friendly colleagues from all over the world, and broad experience and complementary competence
• Access to a wide network of national and international collaborators
• A constantly learning environment with participation in conferences, workshops, and international training events
• Flexible working hours
• Open source and open access philosophy regarding software and data
• Excellent pension, welfare, and insurance schemes, and a competitive salary
• Easy access to the greater Oslo region with plenty of opportunities for cultural and outdoor activities

For more information about the available position please contact Sabine Eckhardt (sec @ nilu.no), Nikolaos Evangeliou (ne @ nilu.no) or Ignacio Pisso (ip @ nilu.no).