Post Doc in climate variability over the last two millennia linking the Greenland/North Atlantic/Nordic region

Niels Bohr Institute
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

As part of the Independent Research Foundation Denmark funded project “GreenPlanning”,the Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth group is offering a postdoc position for a period of 2 years commencing 1 December 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

In Denmark and Northern Europe winters are relatively warm and moist, while summers only rarely are hot and dry, providing us a hospital climate despite a northern latitude. However, due to frequent blocking in the atmospheric flow extended periods of severe precipitation or temperature anomalies often prevail.In GreenPlanning the aim is to provide new knowledge to explain some of these major year-to-year and decadal scale fluctuations in weather related to large-scale atmospheric modes of variability. Specifically, we target the influence from Greenland Ice sheet melt on climate fluctuations in our region. We hypothesize that variations in the melt water contributes to shaping of the surrounding sea surface temperatures and in term control large-scale atmospheric circulation.

The postdoc’s duties will include research relating dominant modes of climate variability to local weather regimes by analysing both climate model simulations and paleo reconstructions of these modes of variability over the last two millennia. Activities will also involve the utilisation of estimates of ice melt from the Greenland Ice Sheet in a fully coupled Earth System Model and as provided by other GreenPlanning collaborators with changes in the modes of variability in the North Atlantic region.

 The candidate will have several of the following qualifications: 

• a university degree in meteorology, physics, maths or other related disciplines in natural sciences and Earth science is essential. A Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline would be beneficial 
• experience in the field of regional and/or global modelling of the climate or Earth system
• experience in post-processing of climate data for scientific application 
• familiarity with the analysis of data sets from climate models. Profound knowledge in appropriate programming languages such as Python and R and experience with Linux/Unix computer environments
• experience in contributing (scientifically and organizationally) to international scientific projects and networks, such as the WCRP CORDEX and CLIVAR Programmes 
• experience in communicating scientific results to scientists of the vulnerability, impact, adaptation and climate services communities 

Further information on the Department is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/ . Inquiries about the position can be made to Prof. Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen ([email protected]).

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vita
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 11 September 2022, 23:59 GMT +1.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.