Postdoctoral Positions in Climate Modeling and Data Science

Postdoctoral Positions in Climate Modeling and Data Science

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

We invite applications for one or more full-time positions at the Postdoc or Senior Postdoc level in the Climate Physics group of Prof. Reto Knutti at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich.

We are seeking physical scientists with research experience in coupled global or regional climate models, analysis of model results, climate scenarios and impacts, or machine learning/data science applied to environmental problems.

Project background

Successful participants could use coupled global (CMIP) simulations, design and set up new model experiments using CESM2, nudged circulation simulations or use existing regional model simulations to improve climate scenarios and link them to impacts.

The goal is to develop high-resolution climate information within the framework of the SPEED2ZERO initiative of the ETH domain. Climate scenarios of various types are required to quantify the impact of climate change and extremes on the availability of renewable energy resources and biodiversity in Switzerland and Europe. Novel machine learning models enable the emulation of high-dimensional density distributions and can learn from high-resolution climate model simulations to generate new plausible weather patterns at a much lower computational cost.

Alternatively, physics-based methods for “boosting” very rare and extreme conditions in dynamical global climate models can provide storylines and quantitative estimates of potential future extreme climate events that threaten human health, agricultural yield or the reliability of energy systems, by re-initializing large ensembles from selected event sets for past, present, and future climates. Candidates with expertise specifically in energy modeling or related impacts, or interest in moving towards that area, could support current efforts to couple climate models to impact models.

These developments will also contribute to the Swiss climate change scenarios targeted for 2025. Projects can also include uncertainty quantification, model calibration, or the combination of observations, reanalyses, and emission-driven long-term regional and global simulations into seamless climate information covering the past, present and future. Key requirements are a consistent treatment of uncertainty across timescales and reference periods, consideration of model performance, bias and emergent constraints, as well as relevance and accessibility to stakeholders. Additional efforts will focus on improving seamless climate information for extremes.

The above topics are broad and intersect, and additional similar research directions are possible and encouraged. Collaborations include the National Weather Service MeteoSwiss, the Swiss Data Science Center SDSC, Prof. Nicolai Meinshausen (statistics and machine learning), various group leaders working on energy and biodiversity at the six institutions of the ETH domain, as well as international partners.

Job description

The applicants are expected to contribute to one or more of the respective topics and to take leadership in one of the research fields noted, including the supervision of students. The positions are for two years initially and can be extended subject to performance and availability of funding. The starting date is as soon as possible but can be negotiated.

Profile

You must have a PhD in physics, climate sciences, statistics or a related subject, ideally working knowledge of climate models, and experience with shell scripting, Linux operating systems, high-performance computing, or advanced statistics and data analysis frameworks (python, R). Regardless of your background, you will have an interactive personality, motivation to work with cutting-edge numerical climate models and their output, the ability to carry out research in an interdisciplinary and international environment, and a strong desire to disseminate results in conference talks and journal articles. Fluency in English (written and spoken) and strong communication skills, in particular experience in the publication of research results in peer-reviewed journals, is required.

Workplace

Workplace

We offer

We offer a dynamic and inspiring research environment, excellent work conditions, supercomputing infrastructure, and a large degree of freedom for successful candidates to bring in their own research ideas and experience. The Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich is a world-leading institute in the field of research on global and regional climate change at one of the leading international universities for natural sciences and technology.

We value diversity

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• CV
• Publication list
• Names and contact details of three professional references

Please include a detailed statement of motivation and research ideas and a discussion of how and where your existing and future work would fit into the indicated projects. The application deadline is July 15 but a review of applications will continue until the positions are filled.

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Further information about the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science can be found on our website. Questions regarding the positions should be directed to Prof. Reto Knutti (E-Mail schreiben). Administrative requests should be directed to Barbara Wittneben (E-Mail schreiben).

About ETH Zürich

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• CV
• Publication list
• Names and contact details of three professional references

Please include a detailed statement of motivation and research ideas and a discussion of how and where your existing and future work would fit into the indicated projects. The application deadline is July 15 but a review of applications will continue until the positions are filled.

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Further information about the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science can be found on our website. Questions regarding the positions should be directed to Prof. Reto Knutti (E-Mail schreiben). Administrative requests should be directed to Barbara Wittneben (E-Mail schreiben).