项目介绍

2024年4月15日

Function

Are you passionate about climate change and forests? Do you want to be part of an international team that aims to better understand how the global carbon cycle responds to climate change? Then we have an exciting PhD position for you!

Landscape fires emit CO2 emissions roughly equivalent to 30% of global fossil fuel emissions. Their frequency and intensity is rapidly changing due to land use change and climate change, but exactly how is not well known. These fires impact air quality and climate, and sometimes lead to permanent forest loss. Over the last years major improvements have been made in how well we can detect these fires on a global scale, and also the degree to which forests are changing is now better known thanks to new and exciting satellite missions.

Within the international CALIPSO (https://calipsovesri.org) project you will analyze how fires are impacting forests. You will improve global forest fire emission models by better accounting for relations between fire and forest loss. This will be done on a global scale based on satellite data and computer modelling. You will also aim to understand how forest fires and their emissions have changed in the past, and how they may change in the future.

Function Requirements

You are interested in climate change and the carbon cycle and have recently completed a MSc. in a related field, for example environmental sciences. A background in physics or computer sciences or related is also a good basis for this position. You love writing Python code, you are not afraid of large datasets, and want to dive into machine learning to better understand how forest fires and climate change interact on a global scale. You are available from September 2024 onwards, or sooner.

You also possess:

• At least intermediate statistical and mathematical skills
• Team player attitude, enjoying multidisciplinary science
• Good writing skills
• Fluency in English language

You will work here
You will work with the Fire emissions and carbon cycle team at the Meteorology and Air Quality group from Wageningen University & Research, within the CALIPSO project consisting of internationally renowned researchers where you will be able to do an internship.

Contactinformation

For more information about this position, please contact Guido van der Werf, professor at the Meteorology and Air Quality group, guido.vanderwerf@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Edgar Tijhuis, corporate recruiter, edgar.tijhuis@wur.nl