AVENGERS is an EU project to estimate country-specific contributions to greenhouse gas and aerosol radiative forcings, bringing together an international team of experts on emission inventories, and inverse GHG and aerosol emission estimations. AVENGERS' goal is to to improve European emission estimates required for a more precise assessment of the climate impacts of GHG mitigation pathways and the energy transition. Your job will be to estimate aerosol emissions over Europe using a combination of model runs and satellite and in-situ data. You will collaborate with a postdoc at the University of Lund to compare different inverse estimation techniques. The AVENGERS project is co-led by the VU which will host two more postdocs working on other aspects (land surface modelling and inverse GHG emission estimations).

Based on the estimated emissions, you will calculate aerosol radiative forcings for the EU and selected countries. You will also conduct Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSE) to assess the added value of measurements by future satellite instruments (like CO2M).

Your duties

• Inverse estimation of aerosol emissions over Europe using the model LOTOS-EUROS and an ensemble Kalman filter
• Estimation of aerosol radiative forcing using the models LOTOS-EUROS and EC-Earth
• Comparison of inversion techniques in collaboration with the University of Lund
• OSSE for future satellite missions measuring aerosol

• a PhD degree in atmospheric research, physics, chemistry or a similar field
• experience in programming languages, preferably Fortran and Python
• experience in the use of atmospheric (inverse) models is preferred
• a demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team
• excellent command of the English language in speaking and writing

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,960 (scale 10)
and a maximum €4,670 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.9 FTE.

The initial employment contract will affect a period of 1 year but the position will be for 3 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment,
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus,
• the possibility to work partly from home

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor - from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

About the department

The Department of Earth Sciences has approximately 35 permanent staff members organized in twelve research groups collaborating in four broad research themes. The Department studies all aspects of the dynamics of the Earth with an integrated approach to quantify the interplay and feedback mechanisms between the interior, surface and atmosphere of the Earth.