PhD position in wave climate and seasonal forecasting

• Norsk Bokmål
• English

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway) is today a leading international forecast and research institution with expertise in operational meteorology, oceanography  and climatology. Moreover, MET Norway has designated responsibility for metocean forecasts and extreme wave warnings for Norwegian marine territory.

Our credo is to protect life and property. On our journey to contribute to safer marine operations, we actively explore possibilities to utilize the potential of large scale metocean patterns preceding extreme sea states to expand into the exciting and timely field of seasonal forecasting.

We are announcing a four-year PhD position in wave climate statistics and seasonal forecasting at the Division for Oceanography and Maritime Meteorology at MET Norway’s R&D Department in Bergen.

The position is part of the project FORESEE (FOREcasting Sea statE Extremes) aiming at better understanding, using, and communicating seasonal forecasting of extreme sea states. FORESEE is a four-year project funded by the Norwegian Research Council (NRC) starting 1 July 2023.The project focuses on new and innovative methods to utilize metocean conditions preceding extreme sea states for increasing their predictability in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea.

FORESEE is supported by international partners at the University of Exeter (UK), Lancaster University (UK),  The Cyprus Institute (Cyprus), as well as national partners in MET Norway and NORCE, with great expertise in statistics, waves, and seasonal forecasting.

The candidate will mine and analyze vast amounts of geophysical data from novel model hindcasts and observations to assess metocean conditions connected to extreme sea states. Primary tools are the programming languages Python and R to exploit their advanced statistical toolboxes for model design and statistical computations. The candidate will further contribute to making results publicly accessible through notebooks and git repositories and ultimately join meetings with stakeholders in the industry to communicate project results. The PhD candidate will have the great opportunity to spend time abroad and is expected to work with our international partners in Cyprus and the UK, including research stays for time periods of multiple months. The start date is as soon as possible but earliest is 1 July 2023.

The candidate will also be given relevant tasks related to statistical analysis of the wave and wind climate in the Norwegian sector. This work will amount to one year spread out over the duration of the PhD project. These mandatory tasks are not part of the PhD project per se, but will rely in part on methodology developed in the FORESEE project.

The main PhD project goals are:

1. Comprehensively quantify and evaluate the effects of metocean conditions on the development of extreme sea states in the regions of interest.

2. Build an extreme value statistical model using these conditions to predict exceedance probabilities and return levels of significant wave heights.

3. Investigate the potential of the metocean conditions for enhancing sub-seasonal and seasonal prediction of extreme sea states.

• The applicant must have obtained a MSc or similar in oceanography, meteorology, physics, applied mathematics, statistics or informatics, preferably with a strong interest and some experience in statistical modeling and severe weather and climate impact events. We also want applications from you who are taking the master's exam in spring 2023. However, we would like to point out that for employment in the position it is assumed that the exam has been passed.
• The applicant has to satisfy the requirements for admission as a PhD student at the University of Bergen.
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and demonstrate fluency, written and oral. The working language at MET Norway is Norwegian. Foreign candidates must be willing to learn basic Norwegian.
• The applicant should have programming experience, particularly in Python and/or R.
• Experience with data analysis is preferable.
• Experience with extreme weather or climate events and/or classification of large scale atmospheric and ocean conditions is an advantage.
• The applicant should be independent and enjoy teaming up to reach common goals.

Personal characteristics will be of importance as well as ambition level and potential. The candidate must expect some traveling and research visits abroad of up to six months. Employment is contingent on the candidate meeting the academic requirements of the University of Bergen for enrolment in their PhD programme. The successful applicant will be enrolled at the Geophysical Institute at the University of Bergen and will be situated on the university campus.

• PhD Candidates at MET Norway are remunerated according to salary code 1017 on the Norwegian government salary scale; minimum salary grade 54 (presently NOK 501,200).
• flexible working conditions
• membership in the government pension fund (SPK, https://www.spk.no/en/), the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (2% deducted from gross salary) is one of the best pension funds in Norway
• insurances and mortgage through SPK
• a pleasant working environment in a dynamic and enthusiastic group
• the first six months is a mutual trial period

More information about the PhD position can be obtained by contacting researcher and project PI Patrik Bohlinger, email: [email protected] or section head Øyvind Breivik, email: [email protected]. 

We emphasize diversity and therefore encourage all those who are qualified to apply regardless of age, gender, functional capacity, ethnic background or gaps in the resume. MET Norway participates in the state's inclusion efforts and aims to get more people with disabilities or gaps in their CVs into work. The working conditions will be facilitated for employees with disabilities. Applicants who inform that they have reduced functional capacity will be invited to interview if they are qualified.

If an applicant does not wish to be registered on the public application list, the applicant will need to give a reasonably argued justification. Information about the applicant can still be published. If the wish to not be registered on the public application list is denied, the applicant will be informed prior to the disclosure.

The application must be submitted electronically. Please attach CV, transcript of records, list of publications (if relevant), and the names of two references.

2nd June 2023

Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Bergen

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Temporary

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