PhD in Arctic Sea Ice Remote Sensing and Physical Geography at University of Gothenburg University of Gothenburg in Sweden

University of Gothenburg is advertising a PhD position in Natural Science, specialising in Physical Geography focused on Arctic sea ice, remote sensing, and climate change. The project, titled ASAP, studies Arctic polynyas (openings in sea ice) and their role in the climate system, including why they open, how they evolve, and whether higher-temporal-resolution retrievals can be developed.

The work is based in the Department of Earth Sciences and is a collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology. The project is funded by the Swedish Space Research School, and the successful candidate will be enrolled in that doctoral training programme. Research tasks include adapting algorithms for summer polynyas, analysing sea ice concentration/thickness/drift products, and modelling the ocean–sea ice–atmosphere system using the MIMICA large eddy simulation model. There is also room to contribute ideas related to ocean mixing, air-sea fluxes of gases, and nutrient transport.

Eligibility highlights include a Master’s-level background in Physics, Physical Oceanography, Fluid Dynamics, Climatology, Meteorology, Glaciology, Earth Sciences, or a related field. Applicants should have strong interest in polar oceans, good English skills, and medium-to-advanced experience with Python, Matlab, or similar tools for working with complex datasets. Knowledge of Physical Oceanography and Climate Science is expected; Scandinavian language skills and Linux/remote-server experience are desirable.

The position is a 4-year PhD employment (with possible teaching/departmental duties up to 20%), and the starting salary is 33,500 SEK per month before tax. The start date is no later than 1 October 2026. Applications must be submitted through the university recruitment portal by 2026-05-10. Required application materials include a personal letter, CV, and contact details for two referees.