PhD - Ocean biogeochemical modeling

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich)

Zurich, Switzerland

Deadline date: 01/12/2013

Description

The Environmental Physics Group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) consists of an interdisciplinary team of researchers interested in the study of the interaction of biogeochemical cycles and climate. A particular focus of the group is the investigation of the role of the coastal ocean in the global context. In this context, we are offering 2 PhD positions in ocean biogeochemical modeling at the regional scale in the framework of the CALNEX project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The overarching goal of CALNEX is to understand and quantify the exchange of carbon and other biogeochemically relevant material properties between the coastal region and the open ocean. The project will focus on eastern boundary upwelling regions, namely the Canary and the California Current Systems.

The successful candidates will develop and apply regional setups of these two systems on the basis of the Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS) and use them to investigate a number of hypotheses associated with this exchange.

The PhD students will be supervised jointly by Prof. Nicolas Gruber and Dr. Zouhair Lachkar. The two candidates are expected to collaborate closely with each other as each of them will take the lead in the modeling and interpretation of one of these two systems. The expected starting date of the two PhD positions is early 2014.

Requirements

The desired qualifications for the PhD candidates are:

• Master degree in atmospheric, oceanic and/or climate sciences, physics, computational sciences or a closely related discipline.
• Experience with a higher programming language (e.g., Fortran, C, Matlab, Python,...).
• Fluency in English.
• Good communication skills.
• Interest in carbon and climate change research.

More information and applications

In order to receive full consideration, applications must be submitted online before December 1, 2013, but the position stay open until filled. Applications should include a CV, a statement of research interest, and the names of two academic referees.

To submit your application online, follow this link: http://internet1.refline.ch/845721/2810/++publications++/1/index.html

For further information about the position please contact Prof. Nicolas Gruber (nicolas.gruber@env.ethz.ch). See also www.up.ethz.ch.