PhD Fellow in Climate Dynamics

1000scholars; Bergen; On-site; NOK 534,000 - 653,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary as PhD researcher

Enrolment in pension fund

Good welfare benefits

Job summary

The University of Bergen is offering a PhD Research Fellow position in climate dynamics. The role focuses on AI-based downscaling within a hybrid physics-AI climate prediction framework, applicable to regional scales and stakeholder-focused case studies.

The fellowship lasts 3 years with potential a 4th year for career development, and includes pension enrolment and welfare benefits. Strong collaboration with NorCPMNext is expected.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in atmospheric sciences, physics, applied mathematics, computer science or related disciplines.
• Experience in atmospheric dynamics is required.
• Experience with scientific programming using Python, R, Matlab, Julia, C/C++ or similar is required.
• English skills (written and spoken) are required.

Skills

Atmospheric dynamics experience

Scientific programming

Machine learning / climate predictions

English proficiency

Independent and structured work

Education

Master's degree in atmospheric sciences / physics / applied mathematics / CS

Tools

Python

R

Matlab

Julia

C/C++

Job description

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Do you want to take part in shaping the future?

PhD position

There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in climate dynamics at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen. The position is offered for a fixed-term period of 3 years, with the possibility of a fourth year dedicated to career-development activities, such as teaching, subject to the needs of the department. The successful candidate will be part of NorCPMNext, a Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR) strategic project that aims to advance subseasonal to seasonal prediction of regional climate and extremes using hybrid physics-AI models.

About the project/work tasks

There is a growing need for subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S; 2 weeks to 12 months) predictions of regional climate hazards and extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, and severe sea-ice conditions, due to their substantial environmental, societal, and economic impacts.

Physics-based Earth System Models (ESMs) and climate prediction systems underpin modern climate prediction but running them at impacts-relevant resolutions is computationally expensive. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to overcome this limitation. At the same time, the shortcomings of purely data-driven approaches, particularly for longer prediction horizons, highlight the need to combine AI with physics-based models. Hybrid physics-AI modelling is thus emerging as a promising path towards accurate, physically consistent and efficient climate predictions.

This PhD project will focus on AI-based downscaling of coarse resolution climate model output to provide actionable climate information at regional and local scales. The resulting high-resolution predictions will be applied in stakeholder-oriented case studies that assess risks associated with extreme events in Norway, thereby demonstrating the potential of next-generation hybrid physics-AI climate prediction systems.

The work will be done in close collaboration with scientific partners in NorCPMNext, a strategic project involving the University of Bergen, NERSC (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre) and NORCE (Norwegian Research Centre). The University of Bergen offers an international working environment through the BCCR, the largest climate research centre in the Nordic countries and among the leading centres in Europe with around 200 scientists from 37 countries.

Qualifications and personal qualities

• Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent education in atmospheric sciences, physics, applied mathematics, computer science or related disciplines. Master’s students can apply provided they complete their final master’s exam before 31.12.2026. It is a condition of employment that the master's degree has been awarded.
• Experience in atmospheric dynamics is a requirement. Such experience may have been obtained through academic coursework, research projects, or professional employment.
• Experience with scientific programming using Python, R, Matlab, Julia, C/C++ or similar is required.
• Experience with machine learning, analysis of climate or high-resolution model output, climate predictions/projections or environmental risk assessment is an advantage.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
• Applicants must have good written and spoken English skills.
• Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.

Special requirements for the position

The University of Bergen is subject to the regulations for the export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

About the PhD position

About the PhD Research Fellow

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the Head of department upon appointment. If a 4th year is granted, one year of career-promoting work associated with teaching, dissemination or research infrastructure/services, will be distributed over the full employment period and thus corresponding to 25 per cent of the time each year.

The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g., research fellow, research assistant).

About the research training

As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.

We can offer

• a good and professionally stimulating working environment
• salary as PhD research fellow (code 1017) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 593 700. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position
• enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good welfare benefits

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.