Wageningen University & Research
1 week ago
PhD in 3D radiation in clouds and wildfire plumes using GPUs and machine learning Wageningen University & Research in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Fully funded PhD position. The post offers a tailored course programme, a temporary 18-month contract extendable for the project duration if performance is good, and a gross salary starting at €3,204 per month in year 1 rising to €4,051 per month in year 4 (38-hour week).
Deadline
Nov 1, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Wageningen University & Research
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About this position
Wageningen University & Research is advertising a PhD position in 3D radiation in clouds and wildfire plumes using GPUs and machine learning. The project is part of ORCRIST (Optimized Ray-tracing for Cloud-Radiation Interaction Simulations in 3D using GPUs and Machine Learning), funded by the NWO Open Technology Programme.
The research focuses on atmospheric radiation, cloud physics, wildfire plumes, and high-performance computing. You will help develop the first Monte Carlo ray tracer for the atmosphere that is fast enough for forecasting, study how 3D radiation affects clouds, solar energy availability, climate sensitivity, and wildfire plume dynamics, and co-develop a physics-informed machine-learning denoiser to bring the model to operational speed. The work is embedded in the Meteorology and Air Quality Group at WUR and involves collaboration with a PhD student at Leiden University who focuses on GPU optimization.
Supervision is provided by Prof. Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, Dr.ir. Chiel van Heerwaarden, Dr.ir. Menno Veerman, and Dr. Ben van Werkhoven. The project also works with a user committee including KNMI, Whiffle, TNO, VORtech, and Columbia University. Access to national and European supercomputers (Snellius, LUMI) and dedicated GPU hardware is mentioned.
Applicants should have a completed MSc in meteorology, physics, applied mathematics, computational science, or a related field. Strong programming skills in C++ and Python are expected; CUDA, HPC, or machine learning experience is a plus. A strong interest in radiative transfer, clouds, and atmospheric physics is required, and English at C1 level is expected.
The position is fully funded. The salary starts at €3,204 per month in year 1 and rises to €4,051 per month in year 4, based on a 38-hour work week. The contract is temporary for 18 months and may be extended for the project duration if performance is good.
Location: Wageningen, Netherlands. Deadline: 1 November 2026. Apply via the WUR vacancy page and complete the mandatory Microsoft form. Submit a CV (max. 2 pages) and motivation letter (max. 1 page); additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required at this stage.
Funding details
Fully funded PhD position. The post offers a tailored course programme, a temporary 18-month contract extendable for the project duration if performance is good, and a gross salary starting at €3,204 per month in year 1 rising to €4,051 per month in year 4 (38-hour week).
What's required
A successfully completed MSc degree in meteorology, physics, applied mathematics, computational science or a related field is required. Applicants should have solid programming skills such as C++ and Python; experience with GPU computing (CUDA), high-performance computing, or machine learning is a plus. A strong interest in radiative transfer, clouds and atmospheric physics is expected, along with excellent written and spoken English at C1 level. Internationally recognised proof of English proficiency may be requested.
How to apply
Apply through the vacancy page on the WUR website using the apply button. Submit a CV of max. 2 pages and a motivation letter of max. 1 page; do not exceed 3 pages total. Also complete the mandatory online form linked in the vacancy before the deadline.
More information can be found here
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