Researcher on land surface model calibration

About the position

Summary: CICERO is expanding our research on land surface modeling, which is essential to address societal questions regarding climate impacts, land-based climate mitigation strategies and the evolution of the future Earth system. CICERO has a leading role in Norwegian and international land modeling efforts and was recently awarded a number of new research projects in this domain. We are looking for a researcher for a permanent position to work on land model calibration, uncertainty quantification and related topics.

Background. The development of accurate predictive models that interconnect the physical and biological processes governing the status of the land surface and its responses to climate change is an ever more imperative scientific goal. To this end, CICERO leads the land modeling activities for the Norwegian Earth System Model 

(NorESM) and has a leading role in the Community Land Model (CLM) and the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator (FATES), both of which are internationally influential open source land modelingplatforms. Historically, the ability of the land modeling community to utilize emerging data sources to constrain predictions has been limited by model cost, complexity and high dimensionality. Recently, however, several machine-learning enhanced techniques have emerged that show promise in transforming our ability to effectively use data to calibrate and constrain these models with a richer array of observational datasets.

Tasks

This position will focus on the use of machine learning calibration methods across a wide range of terrestrial biosphere problems (e.g. forest regrowth and disturbance, fire-vegetation-climate interactions, land surface biogeophysical feedbacks). The successful applicant will initially work across a range of new research projects funded by Horizon EU and the Research Council of Norway. Applicants with interests across the diverse range of subjects represented by land surface models are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will work in the Climate System research group at CICERO and with the large and stimulating Norwegian and international teams developing and using CLM and FATES.  

Qualifications

Skills required: The successful applicant will have a solid technical skillset in process modeling and analysis. Experience with running process-based terrestrial biosphere or land surface models is desirable, as is knowledge of model calibration and/or machine learning techniques. The position will involve collaborative development of model code, tools and manuscripts, so willingness to operate in an open and dynamic online environment (i.e. GitHub) is essential. While the ability to write publications and contribute to future proposals is advantageous, we are also open to applicants with a strong interest in research software engineering. 

Qualifications:

• PhD or similar level of competence in relevant area (e.g. land surface processes, climate science, machine learning) is required. 
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills are required.
• Experience with land surface models or similar platforms (e.g. terrestrial biosphere or climate models) is required.  
• Strong and flexible programming skills (Python, or similar) are required.
• Experience of working with GitHub would be advantageous.
• The ability to speak and write confidently in academic English is required. 
• Working knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages would be advantageous, but not a requirement. 
• The ability to work both in groups and independently is required.
• Interest in effectively communicating in the public sphere is advantageous.

CICERO offers 

• Opportunity to work directly with world leading researchers in the international research front 
• International cooperation through a broad scientific network
• CICERO is an inclusive workplace and aims to reflect the diversity of the population
• Modern premises in the Oslo Science Park 
• Dynamic, pleasant and diverse working environment
• Pension scheme in The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens pensjonskasse) 
• Salary according to qualifications within CICEROs wage system and commensurate with experience

For more information

• Rosie Fisher, Senior Researcher, rosie.fisher@cicero.oslo.no, +47 48 50 66 53
• Kårstein Måseide, Department Director, karstein.maseide@cicero.oslo.no, +47 46 68 00 69

 

How to apply

Motivation letter, CV, transcripts / diplomas and other relevant documentation and certificates must be submitted electronically via Jobbnorge. Applications outside the Jobbnorge-portal will not be considered.

Deadline for applications: 28. February 2025.  No applications will be processed before the application deadline expires.