PhD Student in Earth System Modelling
Start Date
1. October 2026, or upon agreement
Employment Relationship
100%, Fixed term (4 years)
Institution / Workplace
Climate and Environmental Physics, University of Bern
Bern
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Marine biogeochemical tipping points
The Global Biogeochemcial Modelling Group of the Climate and Environmental Physics Division at the University of Bern, Switzerland invites applications for a PhD position in Earth system modelling of past biogeochemical tipping points in the ocean.The PhD candidate will be an integral part of the ERC Starting Grant project BGCTip "Unraveling tipping dynamics of marine biogeochemistry from past climate transitions"
The BGCTip project aims to provide new mechanistic understanding of the interactions between tipping dynamics and marine biogeochemistry, utilizing Earth's past climatic events and novel interdisciplinary methods to better understand the complex relationship between climate and the carbon cycle, ultimately reducing uncertainties in future climate change scenarios.
Your responsibilities
The PhD candidate will explore interactions of rapid ocean circulation changes with marine biogeochemistry, focusing on nutrient cycling and the carbon cycle, during past abrupt climate change. The project involves designing, conducting, and analyzing model experiments with a fast Earth system model (Bern3D) developed at the University of Bern. The aim is to provide new constraints on the dynamics of marine biogeochemistry to abrupt changes and tipping points.This project offers the opportunity to work with experts in past and future climate modeling and proxy reconstructions within the BGCTip project, the Climate and Environmental Physics Division, and the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (www.oeschger.unibe.ch), providing an inspiring environment for Early Career Scientists in this field. The successful candidate will actively contribute to the Global Biogeochemical Modeling Group, presenting results at international scientific conferences and publishing in the peer-reviewed literature.
Your profile
The successful candidate holds a Master's degree in Oceanography, Climate Science, Physics, or a related field, or will have completed the degree before the start of the project. The candidate should have a deep interest in climate modeling and possess solid programming skills (e.g., in Python, Fortran, R, Julia) and data handling skills. Additionally, the candidate should have a passion for interdisciplinary and collaborative research and be proficient in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of paleoceanography would be considered an advantage.
Your Benefits
- International reputation
- Strong research infrastructure and international network
- Collaborative environment and ambitious team
- Individual career support
Working at the University of Bern
The University of Bern not only offers exciting tasks but also an environment that actively promotes development, diversity, and equal opportunities. Discover what makes us stand out as an employer and how you can grow with us.
Application and Contact
Please send your application documents in a single PDF-file including a motivation letter, CV, degree certificates, a web link to the Master's thesis (if available), and contact information for two references by e-mail to Prof. Frerk Pöppelmeier (frerk.poeppelmeier@unibe.ch). All applications received before 31st May 2026 will be reviewed, and further applications will be considered until the position is filled.