PhD student Aerosol & Clouds Interaction

Aerosol–cloud interactions (ACI) contribute most to the uncertainty in total anthropogenic forcing of the climate system. A reliable ACI estimate from observations is urgently needed to constrain climate models and enable better climate predictions. However, satellite-based estimates of ACI are subject to many uncertainties, such as the difficulty in identifying cloud-active aerosol and its anthropogenic perturbation, the cloud regime dependency of ACI, and satellite retrieval biases, which are rarely considered simultaneously in current estimates. Your project is to quantify and constrain all those uncertainties, with a focus on liquid clouds, by integrating diverse satellite and reanalysis datasets with targeted synthetic experiments using the ICON-A-HAM climate model. In combination with novel satellite retrievals from recently launched PACE and EarthCARE missions, your work will provide ‘optimal’ observational estimates of ACI and its forcing. These estimates will be used to evaluate and benchmark current climate models.

You will collaborate within a team of experts specializing in aerosol-cloud-climate modeling and observations, which offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in satellite data analysis and climate modeling. You will present your work at scientific conferences and publish your work in scientific peer reviewed journals.

The qualified applicant should have a MSc degree in (atmospheric) physics or similar with strong foundation in programming (preferably Fortran and Python). Experience in aerosol-cloud-climate modeling and/or machine leaning and knowledge on aerosol-cloud interactions would be an asset. Good English language skills (speaking and writing) and the ability to both work in a team and independently are a no-brainer for us.

The position we offer at SRON is a full-time position in which you will be employed by NWO-I (The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Institutes) and will initially be for a period of 18 months. This will be extended to 4 years when your performance evaluation after 9 months is satisfactory. The salary will be in accordance with the salary scales of NWO-I, starting at €2.968,-  in the first year and rising to €3.801,- in the fourth year of employment. Compensation for commuting expenses will be provided.

NWO has good secondary employment conditions such as:

• An end of year bonus of 8,33% of the gross yearly salary;
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary;
• 42 days of vacation leave a year on full-time basis;
• An excellent pension scheme;
• Options for (additional) personal development;
• Excellent facilities for parental leave;
• Ample training opportunities;
• Possibility of flexible working hours;

SRON’s mission is to achieve breakthroughs in international scientific research from space. To this end, SRON develops groundbreaking technology and advanced space instruments. SRON promotes societal applications for space technology. We have a strong international reputation as ‘excellent in space research’. The quality and societal relevance of our science is considered ‘world-leading’.

About SRON

SRON is the Space Research Organisation Netherlands. Based at locations in Leiden and Groningen, SRON combines fundamental scientific research, technology innovation, and instrumentation development to enable breakthroughs in astrophysics, exoplanet research, and earth atmospheric research from space. In partnership with leading international partners and space agencies such as ESA, NASA and JAXA, SRON provides scientific and technological contributions to international space missions as well as expertise and support to the Dutch and international scientific communities.

SRON is the national base for the Netherlands participation in the ESA science program. On the national level, it works in close collaboration with the Dutch universities, other NWO institutes, and governmental agencies to pursue a cohesive agenda for space-based research.

At SRON we believe that a workforce diverse in gender, age, and cultural background is key to performing excellent research. We therefore strongly encourage qualified applicants of all ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, members of minorities, persons with disabilities, and potential dual-academic-career hires to apply.

Online screening may be part of the selection procedure.

Recruitment consultants, please put down the phone. We’ll do the recruitment ourselves so unsolicited acquisition to this vacancy is not appreciated.