Postdoctoral researcher in climatology: near-surface wind studies

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Earth Sciences has about 80 employees. We have Bachelor's and Master’s programs in Earth Sciences and Geography as well as third-cycle education. Our strongest research areas lie within climatology, ecosystem sciences, geology, and applied geoscience. The research strategy for the department emphasizes further development of Earth System Science. For more information, see www.gu.se/en/earth-sciences. 

Wind of Change: what does this mean to offshore wind energy in the future?

In a Formas-supported project, changes in near-surface wind speed (NSWS) under global warming will be studied. Variabilities and changes in wind speed are largely manifestations of the internal variability of the climate system, although external forcings such as greenhouse gases and aerosols also have some influence. The overall aim of this project is to better understand to what extent the historical changes in near-surface wind speed are due to external forcing and internal variability. This will help determine the causes behind the past changes and to project future changes.

Job assignments

You will be responsible for the observation and climate model data analysis. You, most likely together with a master’s student under your supervision, will

1) evaluate the performance of current climate models in simulating observed historical NSWS changes and select well-performed models for attribution and projection of NSWS;

2) attribute the observed NSWS to external forcings and internal variability;

3) project NSWS with a focus on offshore wind energy production for the coming decades.

As postdocs are expected to conduct independent research to secure permanent positions, we are open, to a large extent, to you using different framings, research questions, and methods than those listed above, based on your experiences and interests. 

You are expected to publish your findings in English-speaking high-quality journals and attend relevant national and international conferences.

Efforts towards supervising your own BSc or Master’s students, developing your pedagogic qualifications, outreach, and writing your own proposals, will be encouraged and supported. Note that you do not need to speak Swedish but will be supported if you want to learn the language.

Requirements

You can apply if:

• You have been awarded a PhD less than three years ago (no earlier than 2021) or will have received your PhD latest by 30 September 2024;
• Your PhD was in a relevant subject in applied engineering and/or physical sciences (climatology, physical oceanography, and/or meteorology), through which you obtained skills in climate data analysis;
• Your expertise includes handling and analyzing extensive spatial datasets using advanced statistical and/or machine learning methods, coupled with proficiency in a programming or scripting language like Matlab, Python or R;
• You authored a monograph, peer-reviewed publications in non-predatory English-speaking journals, or technical reports where climate model output and advanced climate data analysis tools were used to investigate a research question;
• You can communicate in English, verbally and in writing, at a level suitable for working in an international environment.

Previous experience with wind data and/or boundary layer dynamics focusing on NSWS is a merit.

Employment 

The position is a temporary employment for two years with the extent of 100 % at the Department of Earth Sciences. Extension for a third year is possible but dependent on performance and the availability of funding. The first day of employment will be as agreed, however, we would like to see this happen in September-October 2024.

For further information regarding the position

Contact the project leader Prof Deliang Chen deliang@gvc.gu.se 

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande  

Application 

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system. The application must contain:

• a personal letter (max 2 pages) with an explanation of why you are applying,
• a CV (max 2 pages) with a publication list (no page limit), and the name and contact details of two reference persons, where one should be your PhD supervisor,
• A certificate confirming your PhD defense date if you have not obtained your PhD yet.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete following the instructions in the job advertisement and that it is submitted before the deadline. The selection of candidates is made based on the qualifications registered in the application.

Do not email your application to Deliang Chen. Only the applications submitted via the recruitment system will be considered.

Applications must be received by: 15 August 2024

 

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.