PhD Position in Environmental Science

VU University of Amsterdam

Faculty: Faculty of Science

Department: Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Section Water and Climate Risk (WCR)

Position Type: Full-time, Fixed-term (4 years)

Application Deadline: See below

Project Overview

The PAST project (“A proxy-model alliance to decode storms in warmer climates”), funded by the Dutch Research Council, aims to quantify storm occurrence over Western Europe during warmer climates.

• Climate change increases risks from extreme weather, but short-lived events like storms are difficult to reconstruct or model.
• PAST uses proxy-based climate reconstructions and high-resolution climate models to study past warm climates.
• The project develops storm reconstructions from fossil shells and couples them with state-of-the-art climate models.
• The goal is to synthesize these approaches using advanced statistical frameworks to understand the link between climate and extremes.

PhD Role:

You will conduct high-resolution climate model simulations of the Last Interglacial using CESM and analyse patterns of Atlantic storminess.

• Execute simulations on the Dutch supercomputer Snellius
• Design systematic simulations addressing key uncertainties in storminess under warm climates
• Collaborate with international researchers at VU Amsterdam and NCAR (USA)
• Work alongside a second PhD candidate producing high-resolution proxy-based reconstructions
• Apply Bayesian statistics to combine model and proxy data

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement climate model simulations addressing uncertainties of storminess
• Run simulations on Snellius and analyse resulting climate patterns
• Synthesize simulation and proxy results through Bayesian methods
• Present research at conferences and publish in scientific journals
• Contribute to bachelor and master-level teaching and supervision

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications:

• MSc degree in climatology, meteorology, earth science, environmental science, computer science, or equivalent
• Strong Python coding skills; motivation to develop skills in Python, Fortran, and HPC systems
• Affinity with earth system modelling and paleoclimates
• Affinity with statistics
• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team
• Excellent English communication skills

Note: Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not fully meet all requirements.

Employment Details

• Duration: 1-year initial contract, extended up to 4 years upon successful assessment
• Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 gross/month (full-time, CAO UFO profile PhD candidate)
• Benefits:
• 38-hour workweek with 232 hours annual leave
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• Commuting allowance, hybrid working, pension scheme
• Professional development opportunities, including SENSE graduate school

About the Department and Group

• Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) – leading international environmental research institute
• Section Water and Climate Risk (WCR) – studies hydrological and climate processes and societal risks
• Climate Extremes Group (Prof. Dim Coumou) – focuses on climate change and extreme weather, combining machine-learning, data-driven methods, and climate models
• Part of the XAIDA project, collaborating with 16 European research institutes

Faculty of Science, VU Amsterdam:

• Largest sciences faculty in the Netherlands (~11,000 students, 1,600 staff)
• Interdisciplinary research across natural sciences
• Strong focus on sustainability, applied science, and societal impact

VU Amsterdam:

• Values diversity, inclusion, and international collaboration
• Located in Amsterdam Zuidas, with excellent accessibility

Application Instructions

• Deadline: Check official VU Amsterdam vacancy portal
• Submit applications online only; email submissions will not be considered
• Required documents:
• Motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diploma(s)
• Reference contact information

Interviews will be held in March 2026

Contact for enquiries:

Paolo Scussolini, Assistant Professor – paolo.scussolini@vu.nl

Note: Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated

Apply