Doctoral position in severe thunderstorms, mountains and climate change

The High-Resolution Weather and Climate Modeling Group at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Sciences (IAC), ETH Zürich, is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on severe thunderstorms, mountain meteorology, and climate change. Supported by a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Ambizione grant, this opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in advancing the understanding of how topography and climate change influence hail and wind gusts in mountain regions. The project partners include MeteoSwiss, Pennsylvania State University, and the European Severe Storms Laboratory, providing strong international collaboration and opportunities for research stays abroad and participation in a dedicated field campaign. The research will leverage high-resolution idealized numerical modeling (using the ICON model) to analyze both observational datasets and climate model data, aiming to identify typical thunderstorm events and systematic changes in thunderstorm environments. The PhD student will derive representative initial setups for numerical models, design and run experiments reflecting the influences of topography and climate change, and collaborate with international partners in data exchange and modeling. The role also includes presenting scientific findings at conferences, communicating results to the broader public, and preparing peer-reviewed articles. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in meteorology, climate science, physics, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise and programming experience in data analysis and visualization. Desired skills include prior experience with severe thunderstorm dynamics or numerical modeling, familiarity with Linux on HPC clusters, proficiency in python, and a strong interest in extreme weather phenomena. ETH Zürich offers a dynamic, inclusive research environment, competitive salary and employment conditions, and support for publishing and presenting at international conferences. ETH Zürich is renowned for its excellence in science and technology, fostering independent thinking and providing an inspiring environment for over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries. The university values diversity, sustainability, and equality of opportunity, ensuring a fair and open environment for all staff and students. Applications are accepted online until March 14, 2026. Required documents include a motivation letter, CV, MSc transcripts, and contact information for three references. For questions regarding the position, contact Dr. Monika Feldmann at [email protected] (no applications by email). For further details and to apply, visit the ETH Zurich job portal.