PhD fellow in Stability and tipping points of ice sheets in the Earth system

Niels Bohr Institute
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen

The Niels Bohr Institute, Section for Physics and Ice, invites applicants for a fully funded three-year PhD fellowship in in Stability and tipping points of ice sheets in the Earth system.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 December 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
The large ice sheets on Earth are currently melting and contributing to the global sea level rise. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet will continue to lose mass for centuries, but their stability regimes and tipping points in a warming climate are uncertain. The focus of the PhD project is to investigate the stability regimes and critical thresholds for ice sheet mass loss in a warming climate. The current ice sheet mass loss is driven by surface melting from the Greenland ice sheet, and by breaking-up and melting from underneath floating ice shelves from the Antarctic ice sheet.

The PhD project will investigate systematically the parameter space that constrains the ice sheet stability, assess the critical thresholds and rates for tipping of the large ice sheets, and determine the climate trajectories that can lead to a stabilization of the ice sheets. We use the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM) and the Earth System Model EC-Earth with dynamically coupled ice sheets. The main role of the PhD student will be to design, develop and perform ice sheet and climate simulations under various present and future, or idealized climate-forcing scenarios, and including ice-atmosphere-ocean feedbacks using both stand-alone and fully coupled PISM and EC-Earth simulations. Possible consequences of ice sheet tipping to the Earth climate system and its sea level contributions may also be studied. The results will be analysed and used to inform sea level projections and Earth system tipping point assessments.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of climate and ice flow modelling. Applicants can have a background from physics, atmospheric science, or related fields. Experience in climate physics and numerical modelling, analysis of climate simulations, and/or ice sheet modelling is an advantage. Applications should have skills and experience in programming, data analysis and visualisation in Linux, scripting languages and Python or similar, as well as good communication skills in oral and written Engligh.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The project is a collaboration between the Niels Bohr Institute at University of Copenhagen and the National Centre for Climate Research (NCKF) at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI). The university enrolment will take place at the Science PhD School, University of Copenhagen.

You will be working in a stimulating research environment as part of a team in the NCKF, which focus on global climate modelling using the Earth system model EC-Earth that includes an interactive ice sheet model PISM, and applying Earth system models to assess and understand climate change in response to natural and anthropogenic forcings. The team also collaborates closely with international research institutes within the EC-Earth consortium and other national and EU projects. You will also be part of the section for Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth (PICE) at the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI), University of Copenhagen. PICE/NBI studies the Earth and its climate system and offers great opportunities for scientific interactions in an international research environment that also includes a large group of early career scientists hosted by PICE/NBI. The candidate should expect to be working both at DMI (with at least 50% of the time) and at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen – which are conveniently located less than 2 km apart.

About DMI and NCKF
NCKF is a department at DMI conducting climate research for the Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands). It brings together climate knowledge to form the basis for green transition and climate adaptation. The activities include assessments of observed and future climate change of the physical climate system with focus on the Arctic, Greenland and on extreme weather and ocean conditions around Denmark. The research carried out in the department is based on both global and regional modelling as well as observations from remote sensing, in-situ measurements and fieldwork.

NCKF employs approximately 60 staff members - most of whom are climate researchers including PhD students, early career and senior scientists. The department also includes a smaller group of project managers, administrative staff and generalists who work in close collaborate with colleagues in the other DMI departments. NCKF has a strong international profile, which is also reflected in the many nationalities employed and in the use of both English and Danish as working languages.

Further information about DMI and NCKF is found at: [xxxxx] Further information about the PICE section at NBI is found at: [xxxxx]

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and computing facilities.

Principal supervisor isProfessor Christine Schøtt Hvidberg, NBI, University of Copenhagen, E-mail: [xxxxx] Direct Phone: +[xxxxx]. DMI supervisor is Climate Scientist, Dr. Shuting Yang, NCKF, Danish Meteorological Institute, Email: [xxxxx] Direct phone: +[xxxxx].

The PhD programme

A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. physics, atmospheric science, mathematics, computer science. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• An MSc degree in physics, atmospheric science, maths, computer science or a related subject with good results.
• Skills and experience in programming, data analysis and visualisation in Linux, scripting languages and Python or similar.
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in ice flow and/or climate modelling.
• Experience in climate physics and numerical modelling, and/or ice sheet modelling, and analysis of climate simulations is an advantage.
• Good problem-solving skills and interest to work as part of a team.
• Proficiency in English and good communication skills.

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

• Cover Letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any)
• 1-3 reference letters (if any)

The deadline for applications is 25 August 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at [xxxxx]

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: [xxxxx]

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Kilde: [xxxxx]