Postdoctoral researchers in physics of ice and climate

Niels Bohr Institute

Faculty of SCIENCE

University of Copenhagen



The Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) invites applicants for 3 postdoc positions in Past climate

Start date is 1st March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project Translating past climate knowledge into future projections is challenging due to the lack of direct analogues. Human-induced changes, driven by greenhouse gases, aerosols, and land use, are unprecedented in rate and combination. Therefore, understanding past climate mechanisms is essential for improving future climate predictions. Paleoclimate data are critical for testing and refining models, particularly for studying climates vastly different from today and for investigating key transitions. However, challenges such as dating accuracy, spatial and temporal gaps, and the complexity of interpreting paleoclimate records hinder this effort. Overcoming such challenges is the goal of the ambitious EU funded P2F project with the overarching goal is to create a framework that uses new knowledge of past climatic conditions to project future climate change on spatio-temporal scales relevant for societies, ecosystems and the planet as a whole, and to advance our ability to understand and anticipate the main climatic and societal impacts of the ongoing climate crisis.



Here we are looking for Postdocs to work in specific towards:



Postdoc1 (24 months) start March 2025:

The postdoc will focus on defining the states and variability of the terrestrial cryosphere during late glacial-interglacial cycles by generating centennial to millennial-scale proxy time series from ice core records. This work will include characterizing the spatial state and variability of late Pleistocene climate using Greenland ice core data at annual to decadal resolution. The role involves both fieldwork and laboratory work, and to a lesser degree reviewing data from ice core records and existing databases like Pangaea and NOAA-NCEI-Paleo, and contributing to community synthesis efforts. The postdoc will be supervised by Associate Professor Helle Kjær ([email protected]) and participate in P2F work packages 7 and 9.



Postdoc2 (24 months) start May 2025: The postdoc will address whether sea ice drives or responds to high-frequency temperature variability by synthesizing and generating high-resolution data from both polar oceans. This work will involve using recent ice and marine proxy records to create detailed maps of sea ice and assess its variability during glacial-deglacial-interglacial periods through a multi-proxy analysis, including ice core proxies like sea salts (Na, Cl) and halogens (bromine, iodine). The role can include both fieldwork and laboratory work. The postdoc will be supervised by Associate Professor Helle Kjær ([email protected]) and contribute to P2F work package 11.



Postdoc 3 (24 months) start March 2025. Transients, extremes and abrupt changes of AMOC

The postdoc will analyze AMOC transitions in hosing experiments within the CO2 window to simulate D-O events, aiming to develop reliable AMOC fingerprints from SST and SSS records. The role involves examining tipping events and downstream effects, including changes in variability and extreme statistics due to attractor crises. The goal is to identify downstream effects of abrupt changes that lead to further variability or tipping points across various climate models. The postdoc will be supervised by Professor Peter Ditlevsen ([email protected]) and contribute to P2F work package 16.



It is important to us, that you state clearly in your application which project you are applying to.



Who are we looking for? We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of physics, mathematics, geophysics, environmental sciences, climate science, or chemistry.

We are further looking for an individual with a curious experimental mindset. Prior experience with Continuous Flow Analysis, Ion chromatography, laser ablation and/or other ice core analysis is an advantage.



Responsibilities and tasks of the Postdoc

• Carry through an independent research project
• Participating in active research environments possibly includes stays at another research institution and field work
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Engage with the wider network of P2F

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in Climate Science
• Good language skills

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page). Please mention which porject you are applying to.
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of PhD records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list
5. Reference letters (if available)

Who we are The Niels Bohr Institute’s section Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth (PICE) studies the elements of the Earth and its climate system as well as interactions between them. PICE offers a stimulating and international environment with a strong network of national and international collaborators. Within PICE the Ice and Climate research group leads international ice core projects in Greenland to study the climate of the past.

The Niels Bohr Institute is part of the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen.


Terms of employment Employment as postdoc fellow is full time and for maximum 2 years.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.



Application deadline: The deadline for the applications is 30th of November 2024, 23:59 GMT +2

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.



The further process After the deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and the assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 2 of 2025.

Questions For specific information about the positions, please contact [email protected].

General information about the Faculty of SCIENCE is available website: https://www.science.ku.dk /.

General information about the Niels Bohr Institute and the section Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth (PICE) is available here: https://nbi.ku.dk/english/research/pice/

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.