Post Doctoral Position in Arctic Climatology

A PostDoc position is open for a scientist in the research project Planetary Boundary Layer Feedback in the Earth’s Climate System (PBL-feedback) at the G.C. Rieber Climate Institute at the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Bergen, Norway. The main objective of the project is to understand and quantify the role of the vertical turbulent mixing in the Earth’s Climate System.

The PostDoc is expected to work on: (i) creation of coherent understanding of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) climatology in cold climates, in particular in the Arctic; (ii) homogenization of the available data with respect to the PBL representation; (iii) search for the PBL-feedback signature in the collected data using statistical methods and conceptual modelling. The relevant project deliverables include: the Arctic PBL climatology; analysis of climate change in the Arctic PBL and the surface temperature trends; and improvement of parameterizations in the Norwegian Climate System Model.

The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (http://www.nersc.no) is an independent research foundation located in Bergen, Norway and affiliated with the University of Bergen. The centre currently employs about 70 persons from 15 nations. The Nansen centre is a part of the Nansen Group and the Bjerknes Research Cooperation in Bergen, the Norwegian Centre of Excellence in climate research.

Responsibility and required skills:

The PostDoc will be responsible for the data collection and analysis in the project. Therefore, advanced knowledge of mathematics, statistical methods and computer tools (MATLAB) are required; familiarity with FORTRAN, GrADS, CCM3, meteorological single-column models will be advantageous. Good skills in oral and written English are expected. Desire to initiate own research projects will be encouraged. The PostDoc will be involved in a large international collaboration within the European Advanced Research Grant PBL-PMES.

Documented qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in meteorology/oceanography, applied statistics or related fields
• Publication skills in international peer-reviewed journals

Conditions:

The position starts on October 1st 2009 and will last for 3 years. The salary is according to the Norwegian Research Council’s rates (at present NOK 435.700 per year).

For more details about the position, contact Director of Research Igor Esau by phone (+47 55205876; e-mail igor.ezau@nersc.no) or Director Ola M. Johannessen (+4755205800; e-mail ola.johannessen@nersc.no). Applications should be sent by email, including attachments in one PDF-file, to admin@nersc.no before September 15, 2009.