PhD position on Arctic energy budget diagnostics at VINAR Universität Wien

Job description:

The University of Vienna is a community of almost 11,000 individuals, including approximately 7,700 academic staff members, who passionately pursue answers to the profound questions that shape our future. They represent individuals driven by curiosity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. With us, they find the space to try things out and unfold their potential. Are you inspired by their passion and determination? We are currently offering a

PhD position on Arctic energy budget diagnostics at VINAR

Explore and teach at the University of Vienna, where more than 7,700 academics thrive on curiosity in continuous exploration and help us better understand our world. Does this sound like you? Then join our accomplished team!

Your personal sphere of influence:

The research group “Climate Diagnostics”, led by Prof. Leopold Haimberger and Dr. Michael Mayer, is part of the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics. The group is known for its work in coupled atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere energy budget diagnostics as well as in monitoring the homogeneity of input datasets for climate reanalyses.

To learn more about our team, we invite you to visit our website: https://imgw.univie.ac.at/forschung/

We seek a highly motivated candidate to pursue their doctoral thesis on detailed energy and moisture budget diagnostics to trace the sources of major precipitation events at Greenland peripheral glaciers. The thesis should look, however, also at larger scales, since we have reason to believe that the Arctic energy imbalance has been increasing over recent decades, beyond the current estimates provided by climate models. Through this analysis, you will develop advanced diagnostics for verifying modelled energy budget components to novel references at various scales.

Funding for a PhD candidate are available from the Vienna International Network for Atmospheric Research (VINAR). 

Your future tasks:

Active participation in achieving the project goals, which means you will:

• Evaluate local glacier mass balances at high latitude peripheral glaciers, e.g. Zackenberg, with the possibility to take part in a field trip.
• Enhance the mass budget modelling using state of the art interpolation tools, e.g. diffusion models
• Trace the energy and water sources that lead to temporarily positive mass budgets at those glaciers, using Eulerian and Lagrangian diagnostics.
• Study the evolution of surface energy budgets over Arctic areas in general-> permafrost thawing, ice melt
• Teach classes within our bachelor or master programs in Meteorology (independently / within the scope of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement)
• Become an active member of the Vienna International School of Earth and Space Sciences (VISESS / doctoral school).

This is part of your personality:

• Completed master or diploma in the atmospheric sciences (e.g., meteorology, climatology), or a related field;
• Programming and data analysis experience;
• A good team spirit and willingness to collaborate
• Strong English communication skills.

These skills would be an advantage:

• Experience with data assimilation, nonuniform model grids;
• Expert knowledge of programming, preferably in Python and/or Fortran.
• Mountaineer/glacier experience

What we offer:

Some flexibility with regard to choosing the exact topic of your doctoral thesis: The position is devoted to Arctic research, but the exact topic will be defined either before you join us, or in the first month of your employment, based on discussions with the working group.

Inspiring and supportive working atmosphere:You will be part of an international team in a healthy and fair working environment with excellent research infrastructure. You will not perform your work in isolation but collaborate with a strong research team.

Fair salary plus health care and social benefits: The gross monthly salary of at least EUR EUR 3.776,10 (on a full-time basis, payable 14 times per year, amount as of 01.01.2026) allows for a comfortable life in a vibrant city with affordable housing prices and quick access to the outdoors.

Work-life balance: You have flexible working hours and the option to partly work remotely (within Austria) upon agreement.

Training and coaching: We offer you the opportunity to develop your skills on an ongoing basis.

Enrollment in the VISESS doctoral school, with benefits described here: https://visess.univie.ac.at/phdprogramme/ 

Good public transport connections: Your workplace is easily accessible by public transport.

Get off to a great start in your new job: the Welcome Compass helps you settle into your new role at the University of Vienna and life in Vienna.

Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!

The University of Vienna aims to become carbon neutral by 2030: We fully support low-carbon options for travelling. 

The employment duration at this University assistant predoctoral position is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.

The position is available from 1 December 2026.

It is that easy to apply:

• Send a short letter to the contacts given below stating your interest in the position; this could include a description of the topics that you would consider most interesting for your doctoral thesis;
• With your CV including a list of publications;
• With contact details of two persons who could provide a recommendation upon request;

If you have any questions, please contact:

Leopold Haimberger  

leopold.haimberger@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team! 
The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We place particular emphasis on enhancing women’s representation among the academic and general university staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.

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​Application deadline: 11/15/2026 

Apply now