Funded PhD position

The response of clouds to a future climate change is critical to the prediction of changes in precipitation patterns, surface temperature and extreme weather events. However, this cloud response due to the enhanced greenhouse effect remains the largest source of uncertainty in climate model projections of a future climate. The EU-funded Cloud Intercomparison, Process Study & Evaluation Project (EUCLIPSE) aims to reduce the uncertainty in the representation of cloud processes and feedbacks in the new generation of Earth System Models (ESMs). This is a collaborative effort involving 13 international institutions. The successful PhD candidate will use a numerical tool, the Dutch Atmospheric Large-Eddy Simulation model, to study in detail turbulent flows in cloudy atmospheres. One of the central questions that will be addressed is how the vertical atmospheric stability controls the spatial coverage and depth of low clouds like stratocumulus and shallow cumulus. The simulations will be based on observed case studies as well as idealised cases that are based on mean climatology. The topic ‘Clouds, Climate and Air Quality’ is a research theme that has just recently been established within MSP. We offer the PhD student the possibility to work on a challenging topic in close collaboration with international academic and climate research institutions.

Requirements
Applicants should have an MSc degree with a background in meteorology, physics, astronomy or mathematics and preferably a strong interest in turbulence, statistical mechanics and numerical methods. It would be an advantage to have programming experience in Linux, Fortran, and IDL or Matlab, and experience in working with large numerical models.
Applicants should rank among the top 10% of their Master’s cohort. The candidate should be a good communicator and a team-player as well as be strongly motivated with the ability to work with a high degree of independence. Fluency in spoken and written English is an essential requirement.

Employment conditions
The successful candidate will be employed full-time by TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a dissertation leading to a doctoral degree (PhD thesis). The starting salary for a PhD is €2042 gross per month increasing to a maximum of € 2612 gross per month in the fourth year. TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Delft University of Technology strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

To apply: Please apply by using this on-line application:
https://tbe.taleo.net/NA9/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FOAS&cws=14&rid=56.
If you have any problems with the application form, please contact phd-tnw@tudelft.nl.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

TU Delft is the foremost research university in the Netherlands for science and engineering. It is consistently ranked within the top 20 in the Times Higher Education world ranking of science and technology universities.

Faculty of Applied Sciences, TU Delft

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty at TU Delft and is equipped with advanced laboratory and experimental facilities. It has more than 200 academic members of staff and more than 400 post-doctoral researchers and PhD students from all over the world. Many of the members of academic staff are prize-winning scientists and engineers internationally known in their fields of research. The working language in post-graduate education and research is English.

The Faculty conducts both fundamental and application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. Research is spread over six departments. Main areas are biotechnology, life sciences technology, chemical technology, nanoscience and nanotechnology (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience), radiation science and technology including biomedical engineering and energy technology, and applied physics.