PhD – Position on the atmospheric dynamics of seasonal transitions – Netherlands

Atmospheric science and climate change assessments often focus on winter and summer. In this fully funded PhD position you will instead study the weather of spring and autumn. Your aim is to improve our understanding of (the physics of) the transition seasons, by looking at the atmosphere as a dynamical system in perpetual adjustment to the annual cycle of incoming solar radiation.

Duties

In this PhD position, you will conduct idealised experiments with an atmospheric model (OpenIFS), using concepts from the mathematical field of periodically forced dynamical systems. You will gain insights into the time scales, strength, and interactions of different processes in the Earth system that play a role. You will investigate the observed annual cycle including interannual variations and study the influence of climate. Your time will be shared between the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). The mathematics institute CWI is involved in the project as well.

To support academic and personal development, PhD candidates follow courses and assist in teaching Earth Sciences at Bachelor’s and Master’s level. Together these activities amount to twenty percent of the contracted time.

Requirements

• You have a MSc in meteorology, climate science, mathematics, physics, or a related field.
• You have affinity with numerical modelling, preferably atmospheric modelling or climate modelling, and mathematical theory of dynamical systems.
• You have experience in programming and handling large (climatological) datasets.
• You are interested in the fundamental physical processes in Earth’s atmosphere and climate change;
• You are a team player.
• You have excellent English oral and writing skills and willingness to learn Dutch.

Benefits

• A position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of 4 years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

Organization/Company – Utrecht University

Research field – Geosciences » Geology

Research profile – First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country –Netherlands

Application Deadline – 8 Aug 2025 – 21:59 (UTC)

More information: Euraxess