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Job Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) - Ph.D position on Stochastic parameterization of atmospheric convection

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), the national research institute for mathematics and computer science of the Netherlands, has a PhD Position for a MSc degree in (applied) mathematics, atmosphere-ocean science, (theoretical) physics, or similar.

Job description

Atmospheric convection and cloud formation are crucial processes in the hydrological cycle of our climate system. Because of the small spatial scales  of these processes, they cannot be modeled explicitly in large scale climate models. Instead, these unresolved subgrid processes are represented in a simplified statistical manner, so-called parameterizations.

Stochastic parameterization is an exciting new topic at the intersection of applied mathematics and climate science. Because of the shortcomings of currently used, deterministic parameterizations and the pivotal role of clouds and convection in climate change uncertainties, stochastic methods for convection parameterization have become a hot research theme in recent years.

In this project we will develop a stochastic approach to convection parameterization, combining new mathematical ideas on hybrid stochastic-deterministic models and multiscale systems with results from Large Eddy Simulation of atmospheric moist convection. The overall goal is to formulate a stochastic parameterization scheme that is suitable for practical use in climate models, and to evaluate the impact of such a scheme on cloud-climate feedbacks. The PhD student will be part of a multidisciplinary team involving researchers from CWI, KNMI and TU Delft. The project is part of the NWO-funded program "Feedbacks in the Climate System"

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with a masters degree in (applied) mathematics, atmosphere-ocean science, (theoretical) physics, or similar. Knowledge of stochastics, numerical methods, atmospheric physics, fluid dynamics and Large Eddy Simulation is an asset, as is experience with programming and using Matlab.

Conditions of employment

The salary is in accordance with the "CAO-onderzoekinstellingen" and is commensurate with experience.  The current starting salary for a first year PhD student is 2.037,- Euros/month. This salary will include an incremental raise for each subsequent year.  Besides the salary, CWI offers very attractive and flexible terms of employment.

Organisation

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)

Founded in 1946, CWI is the national research center for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands. More than 170 full professors have come from CWI, of whom 120 still are active. CWI's strength is the discovery and development of new ideas, and the transfer of knowledge to academia and to Dutch and European industry. This results in importance for our economy, from payment systems and cryptography to telecommunication and the stock market, from public transport and internet to water management and meteorology.

An international network

With its 55 permanent research staff, 40 postdocs and 65 PhD students, CWI lies at the heart of European research in mathematics and computer science. Researchers at CWI are able to fully concentrate their efforts on their scientific work, and to build an international network of peers. More than half of the permanent research staff maintains close contact with universities as part-time professors. The personal and institutional research networks strengthen CWI's positions and serve as a magnet for attracting talent. The CWI researchers come from more than 25 countries world-wide.

Department

Dynamical Systems and Numerical Analysis

Time-dependent continuum models, described by partial differential equations, arise in myriad applications in the natural sciences, for example, fluid and solid mechanics and field theories. When appropriate, it has proven fruitful to focus on the temporal behavior of such sytems, viewing them as `infinite dimensional dynamical systems', thus making them accessible to the tools of dynamical systems theory. MAS1 engages in fundamental research on applied dynamical systems theory of PDEs, including asymptotics, low-dimensional dynamics, and stochastic modelling; and numerical analysis, with an emphasis on numerical time integration, geometric integration, and the dynamics of numerical algorithms.

Many of the applications of this group stem from Earth Science: climate and weather prediction, ocean waves, seabed morphology, and the transport and dynamics of phytoplankton.

Leader of the group Dynamical Systems and Numerical Analysis (MAC1) is Jason Frank

Additional information

Interested candidates should contact dr. Daan Crommelin (tel. 020-5924194, email Daan.Crommelin@cwi.nl) or prof.dr. Pier Siebesma (tel. 030-2206760, email siebesma@knmi.nl) for more information.

 

The short URL code for this job opening is: 3855
Direct link to this job www.academictransfer.com/3855