Postdoctoral Positions in Climate Modeling and Data Science in Zürich

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

We invite applications for several full-time positions at the Postdoc or Senior Postdoc level in the Climate Physics group of Prof. Reto Knutti and Dr. Erich Fischer at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich.

We are seeking physical scientists with research experience in coupled global or regional climate models, simplified Earth System models, analysis of model results, or machine learning/data science applied to environmental problems.

One position is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project XAIDA "Extreme events: Artificial Intelligence for Detection and Attribution". The corresponding work package will combine targeted global climate model experiments with Machine Learning methods to produce storylines of potential very rare extremes of the coming decades. Specifically, the project will use physics-based methods for “boosting” dynamical global climate models by re-initializing large ensembles for selected most intense extreme conditions for past, present, and future climates. The project will then further develop and apply Machine Learning-based dynamical adjustment techniques to disentangle drivers of very rare extremes, such as those generated via the model “boosting” algorithm.

A second position is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project CONSTRAIN “Constraining uncertainty of multi decadal climate projections”. The work includes model evaluation and uncertainty quantification in Earth System Models (CMIP6, Large ensembles) and its implications on scenarios projections and policy, specifically in the context of simplified Earth System models.

A third position is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project ESM2025, “Earth System Models for the Future”. The work will assess Earth system feedbacks using novel machine-learning detection approaches to efficiently diagnose climate feedback signals from short AMIP simulation, and focus on the representation of potentially nonlinear feedbacks in reduced complexity carbon-cycle and climate models.

Additional research directions beyond the three listed projects are possible and encouraged.

The applicants are expected to contribute to one or more of the respective projects and to take leadership in one of the research fields noted, including the supervision of students. The positions are for two years initially and can be extended subject to performance and availability of funding. The starting date is as soon as possible but can be negotiated.

We offer a dynamic and inspiring research environment, excellent work conditions, supercomputing infrastructure, and a large degree of freedom for the successful candidates to bring in their own research ideas and experience. The Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich is a world-leading institute in the field of research on global and regional climate change at one of the leading international universities for natural sciences and technology.

Applicants must have a PhD in physics, climate sciences, statistics or related subjects, ideally working knowledge of climate models, and experience with shell scripting, UNIX/Linux operating systems, high performance computing, or advanced statistics and data analysis frameworks (python, R). Regardless of background, the successful applicants will have an interactive personality, motivation to work with cutting-edge numerical climate models and their output, the ability to carry out research in an interdisciplinary and international environment, and a strong desire to disseminate results in conference talks and journal articles. Fluency in English (written and spoken) and strong communication skills, in particular experience in the publication of research results in peer-reviewed journals, is required.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.