Date

Multiple Positions Available
Climatology, Remote Sensing, Fire Ecology, Biogeochemistry

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Application deadline: 30 June 2021

For more information, go to:
https://werkenbij.vu.nl/ad/fireice/bpg4oe

For questions, contact:
Sander Veraverbeke
Email: s.s.n.veraverbeke [at] vu.nl
Phone: +31 6 11 10 15 74


Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam invites applications for three PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers within the European Research Council (ERC) project, FireIce: Fire in the Land of Ice. These three- to four-year positions will be located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

FireIce is an interdisciplinary project combining field, remote sensing, and modeling approaches to study feedbacks between climate warming and fires in the northern high latitudes. The project includes funding for several field campaigns in eastern Siberia. Project partners of FireIce include Woodwell Climate Research Center, Northern Arizona University, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Close interaction with NASA’s Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) will be sought.

The PhD students will work on one of the topics using a combination a field and remote sensing approaches. Satellite data processing will be carried out over large areas, and the applicant should therefore be able to handle big datasets efficiently. The applicant should be able to deal with logistical issues and challenging conditions for field campaigns in Siberia. The applicant will closely collaborate with other team members and colleagues. The research will lead to peer-reviewed publications that will be used to write a PhD thesis. The applicant will present the results at national and international conferences, and contribute to the department’s teaching programs.

Requirements for the PhD positions includes:

  • MSc. in Earth, ecological, or environmental sciences or related field but with proven interest in Earth sciences and/or (spatial) ecology;
  • Excellent ability to communicate in both written and spoken English, knowledge of Russian is advantageous;
  • Strong scientific motivation, and interest in Earth system science;
  • Hands-on and curiosity-driven, and ability to work independently;
  • Affinity with objected-oriented coding (preferably Python), GIS, and statistical modeling;
  • Affinity with field work in remote (arctic-boreal) locations; and
  • Good social skills.

The postdoctoral researchers will investigate feedbacks between climate, fire, vegetation, and carbon in high latitude ecosystems based on field, remote sensing, and modeling approaches. The geographic scope will encompass the entire circumpolar arctic-boreal biomes, and the applicant should therefore be able to handle big datasets efficiently. The applicant should be able to deal with logistical issues and challenging conditions for field campaigns in Siberia, and will closely collaborate with other team members and colleagues. Research will be published in peer-reviewed journals. The applicant will present the results at national and international conferences, and contribute to the department’s teaching programs.

Requirements for the postdoctoral positions include:

  • PhD in Earth, ecological, or environmental sciences or related field but with proven interest in Earth sciences and/or (spatial) ecology;
  • Excellent ability to communicate in both written and spoken English, knowledge of Russian is advantageous;
  • Strong scientific motivation, and interest in Earth system science;
  • Hands-on and curiosity-driven, and ability to work independently;
  • Highly skilled in objected-oriented coding (preferably Python);
  • Experience with modeling of contemporary and future lightning is advantageous;
  • Affinity with field work in remote (arctic-boreal) locations; and
  • Good social skills.

Application deadline: 30 June 2021

For more information, including application requirements, go to:
https://werkenbij.vu.nl/ad/fireice/bpg4oe

For questions, contact:
Sander Veraverbeke
Email: s.s.n.veraverbeke [at] vu.nl
Phone: +31 6 11 10 15 74