PhD candidate climate change

PhD candidate climate change at Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI)

Dit ga je doen

Are you passionate about tackling the challenges of a changing climate? Are you fascinated by the rising frequency and intensity of wildfires and eager to grow into a skilled climate scientist? As a PhD candidate in the R&D Satellite Observations department at KNMI, you’ll have the opportunity to work with some of the world’s most advanced satellite instruments. You will analyse the global impact of biomass burning smoke and contribute to the development of innovative techniques that enhance our understanding of the atmosphere. Interested?

Why it's important

As the climate warms, longer periods of rain and drought lead to more vegetation growth and more fuel for wildfires. These increasingly intense fires are a growing risk for people and the planet.

At KNMI, we work to protect society by monitoring extreme weather and climate events. As a PhD candidate in the R&D Satellite Observations department, you’ll use state-of-the-art satellite instruments to study the global impact of wildfires on the atmosphere.

What you will do

KNMI leads the world in satellite-based air quality monitoring with TROPOMI, and plays a key role in the new EarthCARE mission, which includes the most advanced space-based lidar ever flown. These instruments offer a unique opportunity to observe smoke particles and their interaction with clouds, a critical but still uncertain factor in climate science, highlighted in the last three IPCC reports.

In this project, you will develop algorithms that combine TROPOMI and EarthCARE data to track wildfires and better understand their role in our changing climate.

Are you a team player?

This research will be carried out in close collaboration with four other PhD candidates based at various Dutch universities (VU, WUR, UU, UT) and a postdoctoral researcher at UU, in partnership with the Dutch space research institute SRON. While you focus on collecting and developing satellite observations of wildfires across the globe, your fellow researchers will use these data to improve climate models, study human influences on fire activity, and examine burned vegetation and the carbon cycle.

Together, you will form a multidisciplinary team that investigates the climatic, ecological, and societal dimensions of wildfires in the context of climate change. An approach that would not be possible through individual research efforts alone.

Are you warming to the idea already?

You will be based at KNMI and supervised by Dr. De Graaf, an expert in aerosol research using satellite instruments, and Prof. Boersma from Wageningen University, who leads a research group in atmospheric composition and heads the consortium. You will regularly meet with your fellow researchers and help organise meetings at KNMI.

You will present your findings at international conferences and publish scientific papers, while also contributing to the work of your colleagues, building your academic network in the process. You thrive in a scientific environment and are equally comfortable explaining your work to a broader audience. Ultimately, you will write and defend your PhD thesis.

Are you inflames?

The "Interdisciplinary Network for Fire Research from Low Earth Orbit Atmospheric Measurements" (INFLAMES) is a major research project funded by the Dutch Space Office. It combines cutting edge satellite data with advanced modelling techniques to uncover how wildfires affect air quality and climate, with a special focus on vegetation both as a fuel source and as a carbon sink in fire affected regions.

Wildfires are powerful natural forces that shape ecosystems, degrade air quality, and influence the climate. Human activities intensify fires through land use changes, accidental ignitions, and droughts driven by climate change. INFLAMES aims to unravel the complex interactions between climate change, vegetation dynamics, and human behaviour and their combined impact on wildfire occurrence and effects.

Dit krijg je

• Arbeidsovereenkomst voor bepaalde tijd
• 48 maanden

Dit bieden we nog meer

Plenty of growth and development opportunities
The central government attaches great importance to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. These include attending training courses and obtaining certifications. We also offer career coaching if you need it.

Interesting extras
In addition to your salary, you receive an individual choice budget (IKB) consisting of vacation pay of 8% and an annual end-of-year bonus. This IKB consists of money (16.50 % of your gross annual salary) and/or time. With the IKB you make the choices that suit you and you can compose part of your terms of employment yourself. For example, you can have part of your monthly income paid out whenever you wish, convert the IKB into leave or spend it on tax-friendly objectives. Our other fringe benefits include company fitness and full reimbursement of your commuting expenses.

Dit vragen wij

Skills and Experience:

• MSc in Physics, Mathematics or a related field
• you need to be fluent in English
• you need to have good knowledge of Python

Are you analytically minded with a strong grasp of mathematics? Do you enjoy working as part of a collaborative research team and communicating your ideas clearly? We're looking for someone who is eager to learn and excited to dive into the diverse world of satellite missions. If you're curious, communicative, and a team player: we’d love to hear from you!

Hier kom je te werken

Meer over de afdeling Research and Development Satellite Observations

The Research and Development Satellite Observations (RDSW) department of the KNMI (the Netherlands) contributes to weather and climate research and monitoring of the Earth system by using satellite measurements. Its main research objectives are climate research, earth’s dynamics, clouds, air quality and stratospheric ozone. The satellite activities of the department encompass the entire range from collecting user requirements, developing instrument concepts, generating the required satellite products, to atmospheric research using the satellite data. KNMI is part of several science advisory teams for innovative and exploratory ESA satellite missions.

RDSW breaths a positive atmosphere. Colleagues like to have a cup of coffee together and are very approachable. The mix of men and women of different ages and with diverse backgrounds also contributes to a pleasant working atmosphere within the department.

Over Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI)

The weather is temperamental, the ground moves and the climate changes. For our safety and prosperity, we need to know what risks and opportunities this brings. And: how we can best prepare ourselves. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) is the national knowledge and data centre for weather, climate and seismology. Reliable, independent and focused on what the Netherlands needs. For a safe Netherlands that is prepared for the impact of weather, climate and earthquakes.

We use our core values - Development, Cooperation and Relevance - to achieve our ambition, both within and outside KNMI, nationally and internationally. We develop our knowledge and expertise and work together to create a single KNMI that makes a difference to society!

Talent as the basis, diversity as the strength: The KNMI is an inclusive organization. An organization that provides space for everyone and uses the strength of its diverse workforce to achieve better results together for the Netherlands. Inclusive means that everyone feels involved and valued; not despite their differences, but thanks to them.

The KNMI organisation is part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) is committed to a safe, accessible and livable Netherlands. That is why the Ministry is working on powerful connections by road, rail, water and air. And IenW protects against flooding, ensures the quality of air, water and soil and the realization of a circular economy.

Bijzonderheden

If you have additional questions

We understand that you might want to learn more about this position. Feel free to contact dr. Martin de Graaf via e-mail: martin.de.graaf@knmi.nl

• the job interviews for selected candidates will be organized early September
• obtaining references can be part of the application process
• an (online) pre-selection test, an assessment, making a case and (online) screening via databases, among others, can be part of the application process