Postdoc in Improving Understanding & Model Representation of Albedo (80-100%) Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL in Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, through its Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, offers a 3-year postdoctoral position focused on improving the understanding and model representation of albedo in glacier surface energy balance models. This opportunity is part of the deFIRN project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and is based in Davos, Switzerland. The project is a collaboration between WSL, University of Fribourg, and ETH Zurich, with a core team of principal investigators, PhD students, and postdocs working to quantify the impact of disappearing firn on mountain glaciers.

The successful candidate will join the Snow Physics group within the Research Unit «Snow and Atmosphere», which investigates snow and its interactions with the hydrosphere and atmosphere across different scales. The main goal of this postdoc position is to implement improved parameterizations of albedo and radiative transfer in glacier surface energy balance models for large-scale simulations. This includes developing new model representations of albedo for firn and glacier ice, including newly exposed glacier ice. The work will be based on both existing and new field observations from the Swiss Alps and Central Asia, laboratory experiments, and process modelling.

The postdoc will collaborate closely with a PhD student whose focus is on process-scale representation of radiative transfer in firn, while the postdoc will concentrate on implementing and representing these processes at larger scales in models. The position is supervised by Dr. Ruzica Dadic and offers the opportunity to work in a diverse and inclusive environment, with a broad network of partners across Europe and Central Asia.

Applicants should have a PhD in environmental science, geoscience, engineering, physics, or a related field, and demonstrate experience in computational data analysis or modelling. An interest in the cryosphere and willingness to relocate to the Swiss mountains are essential. The optimal starting date is between 1 April and 30 September 2026. Applications must be submitted via the official WSL application webpage and should include a motivation letter, CV, and educational transcripts. For further information, candidates may contact Dr. Ruzica Dadic at [email protected].

WSL is committed to diversity and inclusion, actively promoting equality and fostering an open, inclusive work environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on glacier and firn processes, with significant implications for understanding climate dynamics and environmental change.