Utrecht University is inviting applications for a Palaeoclimate Modelling Postdoc within the Horizon Europe project PAST TO FUTURE: Towards Fully Paleo-Informed Future Climate Projections (P2F). The project brings together researchers from mathematics, physics, geology, palaeobiology, archaeology, and climate science to examine how information from past climate states can contribute to understanding future climate change.
The project focuses on Earth’s response to different climate forcing mechanisms, with particular attention to climate sensitivity, abrupt climate transitions, and the potential crossing of tipping points. By combining palaeoclimate evidence with modelling approaches, the consortium seeks to strengthen future climate projections and refine estimates of environmental boundaries.
The successful researcher will study long-term climate variability using Earth System Models across glacial–interglacial cycles and Pliocene climate conditions. This work will examine how changes in climate feedbacks influence climate sensitivity through time and determine whether periods of elevated sensitivity coincide with a higher probability of tipping events.
In addition, the researcher will use the Community Earth System Model (CESM) and other climate models informed by palaeoclimate data generated within the P2F project. The position supports model evaluation, methodological development, and theoretical analysis to advance knowledge of Earth system behaviour under changing climatic conditions.
Position Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Researcher in Palaeoclimate Modelling
- Institution: Utrecht University, Netherlands
- Department: Department of Physics
- Research Disciplines: Geosciences, Climate Science, Palaeoclimate Modelling
- Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
- Contract Duration: 2 Years
- Start Date: October 2026
- Working Hours: 40 Hours per Week
- Salary/Funding: €3,546–€5,538 gross per month, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus
- Required Qualification: PhD in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Meteorology, Geosciences, or a related field
Research Areas
Key research areas within this Palaeoclimate Modelling Postdoc include:
- Palaeoclimate modelling and palaeoclimate data integration
- Earth System Models, including CESM climate modelling
- Climate sensitivity and climate feedback analysis
- Tipping points and Earth system dynamics
- Climate model evaluation and development
- Future climate projections
Eligibility/Qualifications
Required qualifications include:
- PhD in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Meteorology, Geosciences, or a related discipline
- Strong scientific programming skills
- Expertise in numerical and statistical analysis of simulated and observed datasets
- Experience with Earth System Modelling
- Experience working with Earth System Models of Intermediate Complexity
- Experience using CESM or another CMIP climate model
- Experience with proxy data and palaeoclimate model–data comparisons
- Basic knowledge of geophysical fluid dynamics
- Fluency in written and spoken English
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Conduct long-term palaeoclimate simulations using Earth System Models
- Analyse climate sensitivity across different climatic periods
- Investigate climate feedback mechanisms and tipping point behaviour
- Apply CESM and related climate modelling frameworks
- Integrate palaeoclimate data into model evaluation activities
- Contribute to theoretical and methodological developments within the P2F project
Application Process
Interested applicants should submit their application through the designated recruitment portal before the stated deadline. Applications should include all required supporting documents to facilitate assessment by the selection committee.
Required documents include:
- Letter of motivation
- Curriculum Vitae
- Names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two referees
- PhD certificate or official confirmation of the expected defence date
Important Dates
- Applications Open: 19 June 2026
- Application Deadline: 15 July 2026, 21:59 UTC
- Interview Period: August 2026
- Expected Start Date: October 2026
Interested candidates should submit all required application materials before 15 July 2026 (21:59 UTC) through the official recruitment portal.
Related Academic Positions
- Postdoc Jobs
- Geoscience Jobs
- Palaeo Climat and Palaeontology Jobs
- Netherlands Research Jobs
- Postdoctoral Fellowships in Europe
Institutional Overview
Utrecht University is one of the Netherlands’ leading research universities and has a long-standing record of research in geosciences, climate science, and Earth system processes. Through its participation in the Horizon Europe project PAST TO FUTURE (P2F), the university contributes to international research examining climate sensitivity, palaeoclimate records, Earth System Models, and future climate projections. Researchers within the project collaborate across disciplines to investigate climate variability, feedback mechanisms, and tipping points using both palaeoclimate evidence and advanced modelling approaches.
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