项目介绍

2026年9月10日

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

Your application must include

• a brief account (max 1 page) of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• a detailed justification of your qualifications in relation to the listed requirements, explaining how you meet each criterion. Additionally, you should address the “advantages” mentioned above, as these will be considered when ranking the candidates  
• a brief statement (max 1 page) in which you identify a scientific challenge related to the proposed project, and explain, using at least one concrete example from your own research, academic or professional experience, how you would address it. The emphasis should be on how your prior experience equips you to contribute to this project.
• the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma before starting in the position
• relevant certificates/references
• approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
• a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)