PhD Candidate in Physical Geography Focused on the Future of the Greenland Ice Sheet

Do you want to work on studying mass changes of the Greenland ice sheet, supported by competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Do you want an employer that invests in sustainable employment and offers secure, favorable working conditions? Welcome to apply for a PhD position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences is Sweden's largest and most versatile institution of its kind with a unique breadth. We currently have about 280 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural sciences and engineering with social sciences. We have research programs in air, water, and landscape studies; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; mineralogy, petrology, and tectonics; paleobiology and wind energy. By studying the Earth's history, we understand how the planet has developed and how our pursuit of sustainable development can benefit from this knowledge.

The announced position is within the research program for air, water, and landscape studies (link (https://www.uu.se/institution/geovetenskaper/forskning/luft--vatten--och-landskapslara)) which gathers research and education in hydrology, meteorology, environmental analysis, and physical geography (https://www.uu.se/institution/geovetenskaper/forskning/luft--vatten--och-landskapslara/naturgeografi). The research in physical geography has a primary interest in cold environments, focusing mainly on glaciological topics, but also other aspects of the cryosphere.

Job Responsibilities

The PhD candidate will work on a project funded by the Swedish National Space Agency, with the main aim of creating a new mapping of the bottom topography and ice thickness of the Greenland ice sheet, and simulating the development of the ice sheet until the year 2300. To achieve this, a new inverse modeling-based method will be used that reconstructs today's bottom topography under the ice, while also providing a basis for predictive modeling. Following recent applications on plateau and valley glaciers in the Arctic and subarctic (see e.g. link (https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.25); link (https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1-2025)), and an ongoing application on all valley glaciers on Earth, the method in this project will be optimized for use on the Greenland ice sheet, while utilizing the latest high-resolution satellite data products. To streamline ice flow modeling, a new ice flow emulator based on machine learning will be trained with input and output data from the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM). This ultimately enables modeling of the ice sheet's geometry in the present and future with unprecedented spatial detail and reduced model uncertainty, contributing to decreased uncertainty in predictions of sea level rise for a range of future emission scenarios.

The project will include collaboration with the University of Oslo, Mid Sweden University, the Danish Meteorological Institute, the University of Liège, and the University of Fairbanks. There is an opportunity for the PhD candidate to participate in glaciological fieldwork.

Qualifications

Eligible for doctoral education is someone who has

• completed a master's degree in glaciology, earth sciences, computer science, physics, or similar, or
• completed at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level including an independent project of at least 15 higher education credits, or
• acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Previous experience in modeling/analysis of the cryosphere, preferably glaciers, is a requirement. The candidate should be able to communicate in spoken and written English at an advanced level, work independently, and in an international team of researchers with diverse disciplinary backgrounds.

Desirable/meritorious qualifications

Experience in machine learning, numerical modeling, and programming skills in Python or similar are valued. Additionally, familiarity with software for spatial analysis (e.g., ArcGIS or QGIS) is meritorious.

Regulations for doctoral candidates can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 §§ 1-7 and at link (https://regler.uu.se/?languageId=3).

About the Position

The position is temporary, according to HF Chapter 5 § 7. The extent is full-time. Start date 2025-08-15 or by agreement. Place of employment: Uppsala

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Ward van Pelt, ward.van.pelt@geo.uu.se (mailto:ward.van.pelt@geo.uu.se)

Welcome with your application by April 25, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/786.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the country's most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University link (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/).

The position may be subject to security clearance. A prerequisite for employment in the case of security clearance is that the applicant is approved.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.