Job VU University Amsterdam (VU) - PhD position f/m

The sub-department of Climate Change & Landscape Dynamics, Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, has a vacancy for a PhDposition. This project is funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) in the framework of the VIDI project ACME (Accelerated Climate change by means of forward 18O Modeling and model-data integration).

Research Project: Advances in climate modelling studies have made inter-comparisons of climate simulations for past climates possible. However, the comparison of specific simulations to pale oceanographic proxy data remains a challenge. Indeed, the latter are often expressed in terms of relative abundance of certain isotopes measured in deep-sea sediment cores, while climate models provide results in terms of temperature, salinity or overturning rate of the ocean. An additional complexity is due to the fact that the measured isotopic abundances are not unequivocally linked to a climate variable (e.g. temperature) but are often multi-variate.

We propose here both to compile d18O proxy data from sediment cores over specific, well-defined time frame of the last glacial-interglacial cycles and to perform modelling simulations including the d18O in the oceans to enable careful and direct comparisons of model results to proxy data. Such comparisons will help determine the physical evolution of the climate system during certain critical phases of the recent past such glacial abrupt climate events (Dansgaard-Oeschger events) and catastrophic icebergs flows in the north Atlantic (Heinrich events).

Tasks: The PhD student is expected to:

• set up, perform and analyze a range of climate model experiments;
• interact with an international group of proxy data specialist to compile proxy data;
• evaluate model results with proxy-based reconstructions;
• interact with other members of the VIDI—ACME project;
• contribute to tasks of the Climate Change & Landscape Dynamics Section, including for example assistance in teaching;
• have an excellent motivation, and social skills;
• write scientific papers and a dissertation.

We are looking for a candidate (f/m) with a relevant university Masters degree in the fields of Geosciences or Geophysics. Modeling experience is an advantage. The PhD research candidate needs to be proficient in spoken and written English.

The PhD position will be available at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Climate Change & Landscape Dynamics Section. The appointment will be available initially for 12 months. After a successful evaluation the contract will be prolonged with 36 months. The appointment should result in publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and a PhD thesis.  

The salary is € 2.042,- gross per month in the first year to € 2.612,- in the fourth year (salary scale 85), based on a full-time employment. You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at www.workingatvu.nl

More information on our institute can be found at www.vu.nl/iva. Information on this particular position can be obtained from Dr. Didier Roche (e-mail: didier.roche@falw.vu.nl, phone +31 20 59 87144)