PhD – Forecasting the impact of windstorm losses in Europe – Germany

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a prestigious research university that combines three fundamental tasks – research, education and innovation – in a single mission. With 9,300 employees and nearly 25,000 students, it is one of Europe’s largest research and higher education institutions in the natural sciences and engineering. KIT was awarded the title of “University of Excellence” as part of the German Excellence Strategy, launched by the federal and state governments on 19 July 2019. In the field of atmospheric sciences, KIT ranks first in Germany according to the Shanghai Ranking. 

The Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research – Troposphere Research (IMKTRO) participates in the KIT Centres “Climate and Environment” and “Mathematics in Science, Engineering and Economics” and contributes significantly to the Helmholtz Association’s “Changing Earth” programme. The “Regional Climate and Weather Hazards” working group focuses on the integrated analysis of extreme weather and climate events, regional climate change, climate variability, and risk assessment. 

A 3-year PhD position is available in the Doctoral Network project: “Understanding and Predicting Impacts of Climate Extremes under Global Change”, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement (MSCA) No. 101226348, which is expected to start on 1 March 2026. The international project consortium is coordinated by Uppsala University.

You will be part of a leading cohort of early-career researchers studying different aspects of the impacts of climate extremes in Europe, from public health to social perspectives and agricultural impacts, and you will have access to a rich programme of training activities and research exchanges. These are designed to enhance career prospects in both academia and the private sector.

Requirements:

• In accordance with MSCA rules, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date, unless they are part of a procedure to obtain refugee status under the Geneva Convention(MSCA Mobility Rule DN).
• The applicant must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in Climate Science, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Meteorology or related disciplines, preferably obtained no later than one month before the start date.
• The applicant must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• At the time of recruitment, the applicant must be in the first 4 years of their research career (full-time equivalent) and must not have obtained a PhD. The research career is counted from the date on which the researcher obtains the degree that qualifies them for a PhD.

Additional requirements: The candidate must have experience in scientific programming (e.g., Python). Experience in weather forecasting or with large data sets will be considered an asset. The classification of candidates will also assess analytical thinking, collaboration skills, creativity, initiative and independence. Experience in the private sector in areas relevant to the position will be considered an asset.

Benefits:

• The PhD scholarship offers a competitive monthly salary to cover living expenses, social security and health insurance, mobility plus (if applicable) a family allowance per month, in accordance with the rules of the European MSCA Doctoral Network. 

Organisation/company: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Field of research: Physics; Environmental sciences.

Research profile: Early-stage researcher (R1).

Country: Germany.

Application deadline: 16 March 2026 – 23:00 (Europe/Berlin).

More information: Euraxess.