The Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the field of climate dynamics and earth system modelling. The successful  candidate will be part of the EU-funded H2020 project  'Tipping Points of the Earth System' (TiPES), funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 820970, and will work on Earth System Modelling of the paleoclimate.

Several subsystems of the earth may respond abruptly at critical future levels of anthropogenic forcing, which have been associated with tipping points (TPs). It is paramount to identify safe operating spaces in terms of these critical forcing levels, in order to prevent harmful transitions to alternative, undesirable states of the earth and its subsystems. The mechanisms leading to abrupt climate transitions are only partly understood, and reliable warning signals for forthcoming transitions are urgently needed. TiPES addresses these questions in a joint effort of 18 European institutions, combining paleoclimatology, time series analysis, earth system modelling of past and future climates, applied mathematics and dynamical systems theory, as well as decision theory.

The successful candidate will be part of work package WP2 of the TiPES project, which focuses on stability in past warm climates. Specifically, the candidate will be expected to study the interaction of changes in forcing conditions (e.g. CO2, continental geometry) and feedbacks in the climate system responsible for climate conditions and transitions during the Cenozoic period using time-slice modelling with an earth system model (CESM). The candidate is expected to participate in coordinated model intercomparison projects such as DeepMIP. The aim is to characterise the ability of several IPCC type models to simulate the background climate and the variability and stability of these past warm climates.

We are looking for candidates with:

• a PhD in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Meteorology, Geosciences or a related field;
• experience in climate modeling (required);
• a basic knowledge of (geophysical) fluid dynamics (advantage);
• excellent skills in programming and numerical/statistical analysis of simulated and observed data.

We offer a full-time position for two years, with an evaluation after one year. The research group will provide the candidate with the necessary support on all aspects of the project.  The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €2,709 and €4,978 (scale 10/11 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 6,200 students and nearly 1,500 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society.
The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands. The Faculty of Science consists of six Departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 6,500 students and nearly 1,500 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society.