Postdoc in Satellite Data Interpretation and Atmospheric Chemistry Modelling

As a Postdoctoral researcher, you will contribute to two international ESA projects: PIRAMID (Progress in the Interpretation of Remotely Sensed Atmospheric Climate Products using Modelling, Inversions, and Data Assimilation) and ECV Precursors for Aerosols and Ozone. Both projects require close collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) and BIRA, offering you the opportunity to work at the interface of satellite remote sensing and chemistry transport modelling in a highly international research environment.

This position is for 1,0 FTE during 17 months or 0,8 FTE during 21 months

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Improving, harmonizing and tailoring satellite (TROPOMI, OMI) NO� and HCHO products for uptake in atmospheric models.
• Evaluating and comparing emission inventories and atmospheric models (TM5-MP, MAGRITTE, LOTOS-EUROS, CAMS).
• Integrating GEO (GEMS) and LEO satellite products, including diurnal cycle analysis of NOx emissions.
• Delivering results on time within ESA project frameworks, including preparing reports and written deliverables for international partners.
• Publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals and contributing to ESA’s international collaboration framework.

Your team
You will work at the intersection of satellite observations, modelling, and inversions, and your results are of immediate relevance to new satellite missions (CO2M, Sentinel-4, Sentinel-5) and to the modelling community. You will work under supervision of Dr. Folkert Boersma. This position allows you to directly shape the interpretation of current and future satellite missions, and to grow towards an independent academic profile.

You are a motivated and collaborative researcher with strong analytical skills, able to work at the interface of satellite data and atmospheric modelling. You enjoy teamwork in an international setting and can also work independently to move projects forward.

You also possess:

• A PhD in atmospheric sciences, physics, remote sensing, or a closely related field.
• Work experience with atmospheric satellite data (e.g. NO�, HCHO, aerosols, ozone) and/or chemistry transport models.
• Strong quantitative and programming skills (e.g. Python, Fortran, or similar).
• A track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, and the ability to collaborate in international projects.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.

You will work here
Your job is within the Meteorology and Air Quality (MAQ) group in Wageningen which is led by prof. dr. Maarten Krol. MAQ is a Dutch hotspot for atmospheric modelling and satellite data interpretation. There will be close links and guest visits to KNMI (Satellite Observations department), and frequent international meetings within the ECV Precursor project (co-led by Boersma) and PIRAMID projects. We actively support your career development, for example by helping you prepare independent grant applications (e.g. NWO Veni), with the perspective of continuing your academic career in our group beyond this contract.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). This position is for 1.0 FTE and 17 months or 0.8 FTE and 21 months
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.