PhD Fellow in Atmospheric Physics

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PhD Fellow

At the Geophysical Institute (GFI) and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, there is a vacancy for a position as a ph.d. fellow in atmospheric physics. The position is for a period of three years, with the possibility of a fourth year consisting of career-advancing work (for example, teaching). The position is linked to the project "Reaching AI Projections Trustworthy for Unseen Rainfall Extremes (RAPTURE)", funded by a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC).

About the project/tasks

How can we simulate the properties and hazards of extreme rainfall under conditions we have never observed, in a trustworthy manner? RAPTURE is a five-year project focusing on this question, which lies at the core of understanding flood disasters in an increasingly warmer and wetter world. RAPTURE combines high-resolution physical simulations, machine learning-based climate emulators, and new perspectives on the dynamics of weather and climate to understand i) what current simulations of extreme rainfall already capture reliably, ii) where they need improvement, and iii) how they can be improved. Working as part of RAPTURE will provide expertise in dynamic meteorology, machine learning for the Earth system, and climate risk research, with opportunities to participate in European research collaboration.

The appointee will work with some of the highest-resolution regional climate simulations produced to date, and investigate what causes extreme rainfall locally, how well these processes are represented in the simulations, and how they are expected to change in the future. One will also investigate whether physically based and machine learning-based climate projections provide the same picture – and if not, why not? The appointee will write scientific publications, have the opportunity to participate in and present at international workshops, conferences, and summer schools, and will develop strong technical qualifications to support future career ambitions in academia or industry.

Qualifications and attributes

Applicants must have obtained a master's degree or equivalent education in physics, meteorology, mathematics, computer science, or a related field, or have submitted the master's thesis for evaluation before the application deadline. It is a prerequisite that the master's degree is obtained before employment can take place.

Good mathematical and quantitative skills are required.

Experience and/or a strong interest in meteorology is an advantage.

Documented skills in scientific programming, for example in Python, is an advantage.

Documented skills in geospatial data analysis is an advantage.

Applicants must be able to work independently and structured and have good collaborative skills.

Applicants must have good written and oral English skills.

Personal and interpersonal qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

Specific requirements for the position: UiB is subject to export control regulations, and these regulations apply when processing applications for the position.

Regarding the position

About the position as a ph.d. fellow

The fellowship period is three years, with the possibility of a fourth year depending on the candidate's qualifications and the institute's need for teaching, and is decided by the head of the institute upon appointment. If a fourth year is decided, one year's worth of work consisting of career-advancing work related to teaching, dissemination, and research infrastructure/services, will be distributed over the total employment period and thus correspond to 25% of the time each year.

If you have previously been employed in a recruitment position (fellow, research assistant, or similar), a deduction may be made from the employment period.

About the doctoral education

As a ph.d. fellow, you will participate in an approved educational program for a ph.d. degree within a timeframe of three years. The deadline to apply for admission to the ph.d. program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is two months after starting the position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the ph.d. degree. It is a prerequisite that you meet the requirements for admission to ph.d. studies at the University of Bergen.

We can offer

• a good and academically stimulating work environment
• salary as a fellow (code 1017) in accordance with the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 593,700. Further progression occurs according to seniority in the position.
• membership in Statens pensjonskasse
• good welfare schemes

The application must include:

A cover letter containing:

• a short statement of research interests and the motivation for applying for the position
• a detailed justification of your qualifications in relation to the listed requirements, and how you meet each criterion. Additionally, you should address the mentioned "advantages", as these will be assessed during the ranking of candidates

(Note: Generative AI will not be used to evaluate applications, and it is expected that the cover letter is likewise prepared without the use of generative AI).

• names and contact information for two references. One of these should be the main supervisor from the master's thesis or equivalent
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not yet completed the master's degree, you must provide confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted
• relevant certificates
• approved documentation that you meet the requirements for English language proficiency (if required, cf. Requirements for English language proficiency for admission to the ph.d. program)
• an optional list of scientific works you believe are relevant to document previous academic production and your potential. This includes published articles or other contributions, including openly available submitted manuscripts, contributions to scientific software, organization of conferences or workshops, or science communication activities.

Applications and attachments with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded in JobbNorge.

General information:

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting Dr. Joshua Oldham-Dorrington, Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, joshua.dorrington@uib.no, or institute head Tor Eldevik, Geophysical Institute Tor.Eldevik@uib.no.

For HR-related questions, contact Magnus Larsen, e-mail: magnus.larsen@uib.no.

Diversity is a strength and enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, economic background, religion, beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen uses the principle of public access to information when hiring for scientific positions. Information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the applicant list. If the request is not honored, the applicant shall be notified of this.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. If you check this box in the application, you may receive positive special treatment. We always invite at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups to an interview. More about the recruitment process here.

Life as a ph.d. candidate at UiB

Astrid Nybø tells about life and the daily work routine as a ph.d. candidate at UiB.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo3Z63yzkKA&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G&index=5