Job VU University Amsterdam (VU) - PostDoc 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 PostDoc position. This project is funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) of the VIDI project ACME (Accelerated Climate change by means of forward 18O Modeling and model-data integration). 

Research Project: Palaeoclimate studies as well as recent observations in Antarctica have shown that the evolution of glaciers extending as ice-shelves in the oceans may be critical to fully comprehend the dynamics of the coupled ice-sheet – climate system. Ice-shelves are crucial both as a potential source of icebergs during cold glacial events but also as ice-sheet dams in a warming world. We propose here to couple for the first time an ice-shelf model to an iceberg model to investigate the influence of the ocean on the dynamics of the ice-sheet through the ice-shelf system in a wide range of palaeoclimate configurations both warmer (Eemian) and colder (Last Glacial Maximum) than present. We would like to put a special emphasize on the potential mechanisms at the source of Heinrich events as well as those able to link the dynamic of different remote ice-sheets together.

Tasks:The successful PostDoc candidate is expected to:

• set up, perform and analyze a range of climate model experiments;
• develop the code to couple ice-shelf and iceberg models together (FORTRAN);
• interact with other members of the VIDI – ACME;
• 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 in international peer-reviewed journals.

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

The PostDoc position will be available at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Climate Change & Landscape Dynamics Section. The appointment will be available for 24 months.  The appointment should result in publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, and depending on experience, range from a minimum of € 2.977,- gross per month up to a maximum of € 3.755,- (salary scale 10), based on a full-time employment. You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at http://www.workingatvu.nl

More information on our institute can be found at http://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)