PhD Position in Environmental Sciences

Precipitation is one of the main variables in weather, climate, and hydrology; and a realistic forecast relevant for instance for prediction of rain extremes and freshwater availability. However, the urgent improvement of precipitation forecasts is hampered as major gaps in understanding and modelling precipitation remain. Warm clouds, i.e. clouds with cloud top temperatures higher than 0 �C, are responsible for more than 30% of the total rain on Earth. Observations show that from cloud formation to the onset of rain it takes less than 30 minutes, thus droplets need to grow fast. In order to explain droplet growth to reach raindrop size (a) the process of collision and coalescence - when two droplets collide and merge to form one larger drop - is needed. Secondly, it should be linked with turbulence (b), which speeds up the growth process to match the short time frames as observed in nature. While theoretical and modelling studies try to quantify the collision and coalescence process and the impact of turbulence therein, direct observational evidence is missing.

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate with a background in meteorology/atmospheric sciences, for fundamental research on cloud droplet dynamics in turbulent environments. In this project, you will use the Turbulent Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator (LACIS-T), a unique turbulent moist-air wind tunnel, which will provide direct measurements of droplet collision and coalescence under different meteorological conditions. You will combine the measurements with highly resolved simulations using computational fluid dynamics (using the OpenFOAM software package), to quantify the collision and coalescence process in turbulent environments, providing the basis to understand fast rain formation. The results will enable us to improve the microphysical parametrisations in weather and climate forecast models, and thus, help to improve cloud and rain forecasts.

You will work here
You will be part of the Meteorology and Air Quality group of Wageningen University and Research, and its Cloud-Convection-Radiation group. In this research project you will collaborate with the scientific partners from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany.

Your qualities

You are / You have :

• a MSc degree in meteorology/atmospheric science, physics, environmental or mechanical engineering or a related field;
• curiosity and enthusiasm for clouds and cloud physics, and you enjoy data analysis, performing numerical simulations, and scientific writing;
• very good programming skills (python/R stats, shell scripts, C++ and/or comparable programming experiences) or are willing to obtain these;
• willing and able to travel for longer periods (several weeks) for measurement campaigns; 
• an enthusiastic, pleasant, and intrinsically motivated colleague who takes initiative;
• a team player and also have the ability to work efficiently independently.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Wiebke Frey, Assistant Professor for Meteorology, email: wiebke.frey@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

To apply please upload a cover letter (max 1 page) outlining both your motivation and your suitability for the project, and your CV (max 2 pages) including names and contact details of two potential references.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 23 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in early October 2024. The intended starting date of the position is from 1 November 2024 up to 1 February 2025 the latest.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/8FJwg1tf4n  

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

ease. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.