Postdoctoral position on Storyline Scenarios for Climate Tipping Points

Postdoctoral position on Storyline Scenarios for Climate Tipping Points, LUVAL

Are you interested in working at the interface of climate science, natural hazards and climate adaptation, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden´s largest and most versatile department of its kind. The department have approximately 280 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; petrology, mineralogy and tectonics; paleobiology, and wind energy. By investigating the history of Earth, we understand how our planet has developed over time and how sustainable development benefits from this knowledge. For more information:  The Department of Earth Sciences.

The announced position is in the research program Air, Water and Landscape Science (LUVAL) which brings together research and education in hydrology, meteorology, environmental analysis and physical geography. You can find more information here: LUVAL.

You will specifically be working in a group focusing on the dynamics, predictability and impacts of extreme climate events, coordinated by G. Messori. The research group works of multiple H2020/Horizon Europe and nationally-funded projects, and group members come from a broad range of backgrounds. You can find more information here: https://gmessori.eu/. You will also be part of the Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (climes, www.climes.se). Climes is a collaboration between Uppsala University, Lund University and RISE. The Centre is at the core of a prolific interdisciplinary scientific community, and seeks to leads a lively series of meetings, international exchanges and training events.

Duties

Your main task will be to conduct research activities within the Horizon Europe project ClimTip. You will specifically work on integrating results on extreme climate events, projection uncertainty and socio-environmental risks following climate tipping points into storyline scenarios at regional/local level. These storylines aim to provide an evaluation of tipping point impacts for different societal groups and a qualitative cost-benefit assessment of possible adaptation and mitigation strategies. The output of this analysis will provide concrete guidance to policymakers, beyond that of a typical climate model projection/scenario.

As part of your work, you will be expected to interact and collaborate with researchers from other ClimTip Institutions. International travel may be required. Teaching/supervising duties are possible on a voluntary basis up to 20%.

Requirements

We seek a proactive researcher, able to work both independently and as part of a multi-centre or international project team, and with a strong drive to innovate and test new ideas.

PhD degree in climate science, meteorology, physics, data science, quantitative environmental science or related disciplines or a foreign degree equivalent to a Ph. D. degree in the above subjects. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for applications.  Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

You should also have a demonstrated ability to communicate your research through peer-reviewed articles in leading international academic journals, and have excellent spoken and written communication skills in English.

Additional qualifications
Previous experience in developing climate storylines, analysing climate hazard and climate impact data and working with extreme climate events or climate tipping points are a merit. The ranking of the candidates will also accord weight to evidence of independent thinking, quality of peer-reviewed publications and ability to interact effectively in a multi-disciplinary research environment.

The application should contain:

• A Curriculum Vitae.
• A short research statement (maximum 2 pages) describing how the candidate’s past experience is relevant to the position and clearly outlining ideas for building a storyline scenario related to climate tipping points.
• A list of publications in peer-reviewed international journals.
• Contacts of two references (names and full contact details, including telephone number). Please do not include reference letters.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 01-09-2025 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Gabriele Messori, 018-471 2588, gabriele.messori@geo.uu.se

Please submit your application by 6 May 2025, UFV-PA 2025/995.

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