PhD Research Fellow in Climate Change and Offshore Renewable Energy Stability

About the project / work tasks

There is an urgent need to scale up renewable energy to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Wind energy has the potential to make a significant contribution towards this goal, but many environmental, economic, and societal factors need be considered. This PhD position will focus on assessing the future evolution and spatial distribution of climatic conditions throughout the entire lifespan of a wind farm. The main objective will be to identify regions with the most favourable climatic conditions for wind park clusters, considering the impacts of multidecadal climate variability on wind power generation and operability in the Euro-Atlantic and Nordic region. Little attention has been given to such variations that over a 30-year period can be larger than the long-term changes.

This PhD project will be part of bigger activity within the department that aims to explore the mutual impacts between climate change and offshore wind energy. The PhD candidate will be part of a team involving the energy and climate groups at GFI and Equinor. A core focus of the PhD research will be analyzing long-term observations and reanalysis data, coupled with detailed evaluations of climate model simulations that integrate the impacts of wind-farm wake effects on wind power production and local atmospheric conditions. The candidate will employ a range of cutting-edge analysis, diagnostic, and modelling techniques. The research outcomes will contribute to a digital atlas that details shifts in wind power potential and the associated environmental conditions affecting the operability and efficiency of future offshore wind parks, providing valuable insights for strategic planning and integration into broader energy systems.

Qualifications and personal qualities

• Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent education in weather and climate sciences, physical oceanography and meteorology, applied mathematics, energy, or equivalent, or must have submitted their master's thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the master's degree has been awarded.
• The candidate must have strong programming skills in one or more languages (e.g., Python,MATLAB, Fortran, C++).
• Strong analytical skills and capabilities in data processing and mathematical modelling are required.
• Experience with weather or climate models is an advantage.
• Knowledge of the physics of wind, wave, and solar energy is an advantage.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
• Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English.

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.

Special requirements for the position

The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

About the PhD position

About the PhD position

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year, consisting of 25 % career-promoting work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the department) distributed over the employment period. The 4th year is contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the head of department upon appointment.

The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).

About the research training

As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Science and Technology is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.

We can offer :

Your application must include :

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.

General information

For further details about the position, please contact Prof Noel. Keenlyside (noel.keenlyside@uib.no), Geophysical Institute or Prof Mostafa Paskyabi (mostafa.bakhoday-paskyabi@uib.no), Geophysical Institute.

For HR related questions contact HR adviser Maria Svåsand (maria.svasand@uib.no)

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

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Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

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About UiB

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.