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:

Note: Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated

Apply