The Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences (ACINN) at the University of Innsbruck (Austria) invites applications for a PhD position in the field of atmospheric modeling over mountainous terrain.
The PhD student will work in the project “Horizontal shear production over complex terrain – uncrewed aircraft measurements of turbulence for model parameterization (HOTSPOT)”, led by principal investigator Dr. Manuela Lehner. The project is a collaboration between the University of Innsbruck and the University of Tübingen, funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the German Research Foundation DFG. The objectives are to determine (i) the magnitude of horizontal wind shear in the cross section of an Alpine valley compared to vertical wind shear, (ii) whether a state-of-the-art weather model can reproduce the observed horizontal wind shear correctly, (iii) the role of horizontal wind shear for the total turbulence production, and (iv) the importance of including turbulence production from horizontal wind shear in the model for representing the exchange of, for example, moisture and air pollutants in the boundary layer. The PhD student will implement horizontal shear production in the prognostic TKE equation of existing PBL parameterizations to address the above research goals, using data collected during the TEAMx observational campaign in the Austrian Inn Valley for model evaluation, including UAS measurements collected by our project partners from the University of Tübingen.
The project is embedded in the international TEAMx programme which focuses on transport and exchange processes in the atmosphere over mountainous terrain. The PhD student will work closely with the project partners at the University of Tübingen and with other members of the atmospheric turbulence and atmospheric dynamics research groups at ACINN (https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/acinn/).
The position is initially awarded for one year and will be extended to a total duration of 3 years after positive evaluation. The preferred starting date is 1 June 2025 or shortly thereafter. Remuneration will be based on the Austrian collective agreement for university employees (representative gross salary rates are provided by the Austrian Science Fund (https://www.fwf.ac.at/fileadmin/Website/Dokumente/Foerdern/6_Schritte/Weitere_Informationen/fwf_p ersonnel_costs.pdf).
Essential qualifications: Master (or equivalent) degree in Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences or a related subject; demonstrated proficiency in Python or a similar programming language; excellent oral and written communication skills in English; strong motivation; ability to work independently and in a team.
Assets: Knowledge of the atmospheric boundary layer and of mountain meteorology; experience with numerical weather prediction codes; experience with high-performance computing.
Applications received before Thursday, 1 May 2025, will be given full consideration. The application package should be submitted via e-mail to Manuela Lehner (manuela.lehner@uibk.ac.at) and should include the following information:
- A curriculum vitae;
- A formal letter of motivation, stating your interest and qualifications for the position;
- Degree transcripts and master thesis abstract;
- Contact information for one to three referees.
The University of Innsbruck aims at increasing the proportion of women at all employment levels and therefore encourages applications by qualified women. Candidates who wish to receive further details about the position are welcome to contact Manuela Lehner by e-mail.