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 If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Engineeroxy

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