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
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