Whenever there are any new positions available at the ICOS or related communities we will announce it on this page.
If you have information about related open vacancies, please send an email to ICOS Communications at icos-comms (at) icos-ri.eu
Open positions in the ICOS field
Postdoc Position, ICOS-CH activities at the Jungfraujoch High-Altitude Research Station (80-100%), University of Bern, Switzerland
The University of Bern is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher for a four-year position in Climate Science, Chemistry, Physics or a related field.
The Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) is dedicated to producing standardized, high-precision, long-term observations to advance our understanding of global biogeochemical cycles and to provide essential information on greenhouse gases. We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to manage the University of Bern's contributions to the Swiss branch of ICOS (ICOS-CH) at the Jungfraujoch high altitude research station. As a Class 1 Atmospheric Station and the highest station in the ICOS network, Jungfraujoch offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge climate research.
ICOS data streams at Jungfraujoch encompass measurements of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) performed both in situ and via flask sampling, meteorological data, isotopic analyses (¹³C-CO₂, ¹⁴C-CO₂), and background atmospheric components such as O₂:N₂:Ar ratios. The selected postdoc will collaborate with technical staff to maintain the quality of these ongoing measurement time series, and will lead the interpretation, dissemination, and publication of findings. Additional responsibilities may include supervising student theses, teaching, outreach, and fostering innovation within the ICOS network.
Key Responsibilities:
- Perform regular maintenance, calibration, and servicing of ICOS flask sampling, online and flask-based CO₂ measurement systems, and O₂:N₂:Ar ratio measurements at the Jungfraujoch research station and the East Ridge Laboratory
- Analyze and visualize data, ensuring quality control and timely submission to ICOS databases.
- Present research findings at national and international conferences, contribute to project reports, and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
Applications are open and being assessed on a rolling basis beginning 14th February 2025. Read more and apply here: https://ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jobs/1f00b1bd-8efc-4999-bd41-9727ccaa5420
Data Scientist (m/f/d), Geospatial data and/or remote sensing, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC), Jena, Germany
The Global Diagnostic Modelling group at MPI-BGC leads the FLUXCOM initiative, Jung et al. 2020, Nelson, Walther et al. 2024) which develops approaches to integrate satellite remote sensing data, eddy-covariance flux observations, and machine learning to generate global products of land-atmosphere carbon and energy fluxes. FLUXCOM is developed by a diverse team with backgrounds in ecophysiology, data science, machine learning, and remote sensing. We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist to complement our team efforts in tackling current challenges and research questions that require improved and extended integration of satellite and in-situ data streams.
We are looking for a team member who can integrate new and high spatial resolution observational datasets into the existing FLUXCOM workflow. This involves developing and applying methodologies to reduce spatial mismatches of flux tower and satellite observations by integrating high-resolution satellite products (e.g. Sentinel-2) and explicit flux tower footprints. Additionally, there are ample opportunities of exploring novel data streams from e.g. hyperspectral, LIDAR, or SAR remote sensing to improve the FLUXCOM approach. Our new colleague will also have space to complement the research activities of the FLUXCOM team by developing and realizing own research ideas. These may focus on more technical or applied questions according to the applicant’s interests.
Our colleague will be embedded in the FLUXCOM team with ample additional opportunities to collaborate within the Department of Biogeochemical Integration, and with a network of external partners of a large European project that brings together a wide range of experts on carbon cycle modelling and observational data streams.
Deadline for applications is 7th February 2025. Read more and apply here: https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/en/career/01-2025
PhD candidate, Greenhouse gas balance of fen meadow landscapes, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
Drained organic soils are an important source of greenhouse gases worldwide. Also in the low lying areas of the Netherlands drainage of its organic soils, with the aim to enable more intensive usage of the land, leads to oxidation of organic material, significant carbon dioxide release and subsequent land subsidence. As part of climate mitigation policies the Dutch government seeks to reduce these emissions by at least 1 Mton in 2030. In support of these policies, several research research projects funded at (sub-)national level (such as the National Research programme on Greenhouse gas emissions from Fen meadow areas (in Dutch NOBV) aim to investigate the effects of various mitigation measures on total greenhouse gas balance of the targeted areas.
As a PhD candidate, you will work on the following research topics (relative weight to be determined based on your interest and qualifications):
- Contribute to (mobile) greenhouse gas monitoring strategies and their operations, at field to regional scale;
- Contribute to further optimising near real time processing of obtained high frequency eddy covariance data to greenhouse gas fluxes at diurnal to inter annual time scales;
- Analyse and scale data from multiple locations and transects in relation to explanatory variables from vegetation and soil characteristics, land and water management and climate, not only for carbon dioxide but especially also for methane;
- Develop data driven models of regional greenhouse gas balances for the fen meadow areas of the Netherlands under (emission reduction) management;
- Develop data-assimilation strategies, i.e. feeding models with near real time observations to continuously constrain model parameters, creating a digital twin of Dutch fen meadow areas;
- Analyse the impacts of climate anomalies and climate change on regional greenhouse gas emissions.
Deadline for applications is 30th January 2025. Read more and apply here: https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/phd-greenhouse-gas-balance-of-fen-meadow-landscapes.htm
Doctoral student, Ecosystem water vapor exchange, Grassland Sciences Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
The Grassland Sciences Group is a vibrant and international working group at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich. We are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic, and highly motivated doctoral student with a passion for science to join our team. Our research focuses on the process- and system-understanding of the biosphere-atmosphere greenhouse gas exchange and its drivers in forests and agroecosystems, in response to management and climate.
This position is part of the project Effect of climate and management on evapotranspiration in agricultural ecosystems (ECOVAP) funded by the ETH Grants programme. The aim of this project is to evaluate and partition evapotranspiration in Swiss agroecosystems along a management and climate gradient and to assess the influence of extreme events, such as droughts, on the ecosystem water vapor exchange. We will use eddy covariance to quantify the ecosystem water vapor exchange using measurements from the Swiss FluxNet as well as data on the plot scale from lysimeter and dendrometer measurements. Data analyses will be conducted using statistical and machine learning models including random forest models and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analyses. This project will improve our knowledge on the mechanisms of evapotranspiration in agroecosystems with an interdisciplinary approach (micrometeorology, ecophysiology and agricultural sciences), relevant for sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.
The earliest starting date is 1st March 2025. We will start interviewing candidates beginning of February 2025. Read more and apply here: https://jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOPG_ethz_vJpy0xrClmPytNAtIw
PhD Position in Carbon Cycling and Climate Change in Coastal Environments, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
The Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research (CoastClim), established at the Tvärminne Zoological Station (TZS), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki (Finland), is seeking an enthusiastic PhD candidate with an interest in global change and more specifically in marine (pelagic) biogeochemistry.
Within CoastClim, the successful candidate will explore the connections between biodiversity and carbon cycling in coastal habitats and assess their impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics including CO₂ and CH₄. Fieldwork and in-situ experiments will focus on: i) investigating the importance of temporal variability, including seasonal ecosystem successions, on the intensity of sea-air GHG exchanges in coastal ecosystems, ii) identifying GHG hotspots in coastal environments by examining contrasting seafloor habitats and quantifying their GHG release into the water column, and iii) assessing the impacts of heatwaves on local biodiversity and GHG dynamics.
Applicants should have completed both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree by spring 2025. As this is a multidisciplinary research project, applicants with a background in ecology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, oceanography, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Experience or interest in statistical programming and computing (e.g., Matlab, R) is a strong advantage, as is experience in field and laboratory work (though not required). Strong communication, presentation, and academic writing skills in English are essential. Collaboration within the multidisciplinary team will be essential.
The candidate will be expected to present the research at conferences, to publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, and participate in departmental seminars. Overall, the candidate is expected to be interested in solving multi-scale challenges, to possess a curious and analytical mindset, and to be creative in approaching scientific questions.
Deadline for applications is 31st January 2025. Read more and apply here: https://www.coastclim.org/phd-position-in-carbon-cycling-and-climate-change-in-coastal-environments/