Emprego

The Ice&Climate group in the Earth System Sciences unit at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel invites applications to fill 5 postdoctoral and PhD positions in ice sheet and climate modeling. These positions aim at incorporating improved representations of crucial numerical and physical treatments in existing 3D Antarctic and Greenland ice-sheet models. Model applications will focus on the contribution of the polar ice sheets to sea-level change and on the interpretation and dating of ice-core records. The available positions are funded by a combination of European, national, and institutional sources. Funding for these positions is secured for a period of 3 to 4 years.

Succesful applicants are expected to contribute to any of the following topics:

1. Prediction of the contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet to global sea-level change over the next 200 years and beyond. The work will further improve an existing 3D thermomechanical coupled ice-sheet/ ice-shelf model by incorporating a novel sub-grid-scale grounding-line treatment with higher-order stresses in a nested approach, as well as improved treatments for basal processes (basal sliding below ice sheet, basal melting below ice shelves). The experiments will contribute to intercomparison exercises with groups at BAS, LGGE, and the University of Bristol. Forcing fields will be supplied by different coupled global and regional atmospheric and climate models. This subject is a contribution to the EU FP7 ice2sea project (http://www.ice2sea.eu/).

2. Prediction of the contribution of the Greenland ice sheet to global sea-level change over the next 200 years and beyond. The work will further improve an existing 3D thermomechanical ice sheet model by implementing new treatments for basal lubrication, higher-order stress transmission, and details of the numerical scheme. The experiments will contribute to intercomparison exercises with groups at LGGE, DMI, and the University of Bristol. Forcing fields will be supplied by different coupled global and regional atmospheric and climate models. This subject is a contribution to the EU FP7 ice2sea project (http://www.ice2sea.eu/).

3. Nested modelling of the Greenland ice sheet in support of the dating and the interpretation of the NEEM ice core record. The work will embed a high-resolution higher-order ice flow model into an existing 3D thermomechanical model of the Greenland ice sheet. The experiments aim to establish trajectories of ice particles from the ice core location back to their respective times and places of origin over the entire area and time period covered by the ice core. The results will contribute to establishing depth-age distributions, constraints on ice sheet history, and many more parameters useful for a correct interpretation of the ice core. This subject is part of the Belgian contribution to the NEEM ice core project (http://neem.ku.dk/).

The desired qualifications are a degree in glaciology, geophysics, meteorology, or an equivalent geoscience, programming skills in a Fortran/Unix-type of environment, and good communication skills. Previous experience with glaciological modeling will be an advantage.

The preferential starting date for these positions is 1 July 2009 or as soon thereafter as possible. Net salaries (after tax and social security) range from 1850 € per month for a beginning PhD student to around 2400 € per month for a postdoctoral researcher depending on experience and family status.

Applicants should email a letter of interest and a Curriculum Vitae to Professor Philippe Huybrechts at the E-mail address given below. Review of the applications will begin 15 May 2009 and will continue until the positions are filled.