This two-year postdoc position offers an exciting opportunity to advance our understanding of glacier dynamics and improve the accuracy of mass loss predictions for lake-terminating glaciers.

Your job
You will play a central role in our research on Himalayan glaciers, with a specific focus on lake-terminating glaciers. Using state-of-the-art modelling, remote sensing techniques, and field measurements, you will investigate the calving behaviour of lake-terminating glaciers and the additional mass loss resulting from proglacial lake formation. You will also assist in a field campaign to the Himalayas, where you will collect essential data on glacier thickness, surface properties, and lake bathymetry, providing critical ground-truthing for the model. By utilising a glacier ice flow model, you will simulate a selected lake-terminating glacier in the Himalayas and validate the results using both in-situ and remote sensing data. This position offers close collaboration with colleagues from the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU) and various international research groups.

We look forward to your application if you have the following qualifications:

• a PhD in glaciology, geosciences, or a related field in environmental sciences obtained within the past five years;
• experience in numerical modelling, preferably in glacier dynamics;
• previous field experience, with the ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork in challenging conditions;
• familiarity with remote sensing techniques;
• a proven ability to conduct independent research, as well as to work effectively as part of a research team;
• excellent command of English (working language).

We offer:

• a position for one year, with an extension to two years upon a successful assessment in the first year;
• a working week of 28 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,345 and €5,278 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The team of the department of Physical Geography excels in research and education on BSc, MSc and PhD level. We research processes, patterns and dynamics of Earth’s systems from the mountains to the sea, and the interaction in between. This knowledge is essential for the sustainable management of our planet and to guarantee the availability of resources for the next generations. We are a lively department that hosts an active early career community (PhD candidates, researchers and lecturers). We organise a warm welcome for every new member.

For more information, please contact Dr Faezeh M. Nick at f.maghaminick@uu.nl or Professor Walter Immerzeel at w.w.immerzeel@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.