Postdoc in Risk Assessment of Weather- and Climate Extremes

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28 days remaining

Postdoc in Risk Assessment of Weather- and Climate Extremes

We are looking for a Postdoc in Risk Assessment of Weather- and Climate Extremes. Apply to join our interdisciplinary team!

Deadline Published on Vacancy ID 4406
Apply now
28 days remaining

Academic fields

Natural sciences

Job types

Postdoc; Research, development, innovation

Education level

Doctorate

Weekly hours

32 hours per week

Salary indication

€3378—€5331 per month

Location

Princetonlaan 8a, 3584CB, Utrecht

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Job description

Are you interested in studying extreme and compound weather events and evaluating their cross-sectoral impacts in the context of climate change? Do you enjoy working at the forefront of interdisciplinary research and collaborating with stakeholders across the water-energy-land nexus in the Netherlands? Join our interdisciplinary team to tackle these pressing challenges!

Your job
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Compound events, where multiple extremes occur simultaneously or in close succession, often result in significantly greater impacts and damages that are difficult to predict, mitigate and manage. For example, heavy precipitation during a storm surge can prevent rainwater from draining into the sea, exacerbating the risk of coastal flooding. Other examples include "dark doldrums" (calm, overcast conditions leading to renewable energy shortfalls), "hot droughts" (co-occurring heatwaves and droughts), and wildfires driven by drought and strong winds (as seen in the recent California fire).

Compound events are more complex than single extreme weather events because they often involve multiple hydroclimatic factors interacting, even if these factors aren't extreme on their own. Their impacts can cross sectors and system boundaries, depending on local adaptability. For example, the "hot drought" in the European summer of 2018 reduced water availability and quality, creating competition for water among energy production, agriculture, households, shipping, and cooling critical infrastructure. Traditional methods for analysing these events often focus on one discipline, overlook connections between sectors, and miss the impact of events driven by non-extreme factors. A broader, interdisciplinary approach is needed to address these challenges.

This project aims to develop a comprehensive methodology to characterise compound events within the water-land-energy nexus. It integrates multidisciplinary data and expertise from fields such as mathematics, climate science, hydrology, energy science, and ecology, complemented by evidence gathered through participatory research and stakeholder engagement.

The methodology will be designed to be robust and adaptable, addressing the specific needs of each discipline while providing a unified framework to understand compound events and their impacts. It will serve as a valuable tool for decision-makers to manage compound events and adapt to future challenges. For validation, the methodology will be applied in a case study in the Netherlands to identify historical compound events and assess their impacts, such as the 2021 summer flooding in Limburg caused by heavy rainfall, saturated soils, and peak streamflows. The study also aims to uncover novel types of compound events and expand the existing catalogue.

You will develop the above-mentioned methodology with the support of a multidisciplinary team of supervisors and advisors, which includes three main phases:
  1. Critical Assessment of Existing Methods

  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of current methods through literature reviews and consultations with multidisciplinary experts.
  • Assess techniques such as threshold selection criteria for defining extremes, probability distributions (bounded and unbounded), and advanced statistical methods like multivariate extreme value theory and copulas for modeling dependencies between risk drivers.

  1. Methodology Development and Refinement

  • Build upon the critical assessment to unify and refine existing approaches.
  • Ensure the new methodology meets practical needs across disciplines while adhering to the principles of mathematical modeling.

  1. Integration of Multidisciplinary Expertise and Stakeholder Feedback

  • Validate the methodology by applying it to historical compound events in the Netherlands.
  • Incorporate insights and feedback from key stakeholders.
  • Conduct causal chain analyses to assess potential impacts of compound events within the water-energy-land nexus.

You will be part of the WELCOME (Water-Energy-Land impacts of COMpound weather Events) signature project, funded by the Pathways to Sustainability community at Utrecht University. You will collaborate within a diverse consortium of scholars from both natural and social sciences, engage with multi-sectoral stakeholders, and get the unique opportunity to build up a large network. The research will be conducted at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development within the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University, in close collaboration with colleagues from other faculties.

Requirements

  • You hold a PhD in climate science, hydrology, mathematics, environmental sciences, risk assessment, energy sciences, quantitative finance, integrated assessment modelling or similar field.
  • You have a strong interest in multidisciplinary research.
  • You have an understanding of climate modelling, hydrology modelling or climate impact assessment.
  • You have experience in quantitative analysis & statistics.
  • You have a background in programming with Python, Matlab or R, ideally experienced with spatio-temporal datasets.
  • You have strong communication skills.

Conditions of employment

We offer:
  • a postdoc position (0.8 FTE) for one year;
  • a gross monthly salary between €3,378 and €5,331 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 inc their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Employer

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.

Additional information

For more information, please contact Dr Jing Hu at j.hu@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Application procedure

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

Working at Utrecht University

At Utrecht University, we work together towards a better future for all of us. You are invited to contribute to a better world.

Will you join us?

Apply now
28 days remaining