PhD position in radar glaciology and Greenland Ice Sheet firn hydrology
PhD opportunity at GEUS and DTU on radar glaciology, firn hydrology, and Greenland Ice Sheet change.
This PhD project will investigate how the near-surface firn of the Greenland Ice Sheet has changed over the past 25 years using airborne radar data collected since the early 1990s. The work focuses on reconstructing long-term changes in firn properties as melt intensity has increased, with particular attention to the expansion of ice slabs and ice layers that affect firn meltwater storage. Where feasible, the project will also map englacial channels and drainage pathways that connect surface meltwater to the ice-sheet bed and may influence ice dynamics and mass loss.
The position is embedded in the ERC-funded
FirnMelt
project, which combines airborne, satellite, and ground-based radar, in situ firn observations, and advanced firn and hydrology modelling to understand meltwater runoff and retention in Greenland’s firn. The successful candidate will contribute observational evidence that helps evaluate model performance and supports interpretation of ice-sheet-wide change. The project results will feed into new airborne campaigns planned for 2026 and 2028, as well as ground-based measurements from South Greenland.
You will be based at the Department of Glaciology and Climate at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) in Copenhagen and enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Lyngby, Greater Copenhagen. The department is internationally oriented, with around 40 researchers, PhD students, and postdoctoral fellows, and the wider GEUS environment offers a collaborative and informal workplace with a strong focus on professional development and well-being.
Eligibility highlights:
a master’s degree in Natural Sciences or a closely related field is required, with geophysics, physics, geosciences, geology, or geography explicitly mentioned. Prior experience with radar measurements, remote sensing, glaciology, or scientific programming is welcome but not mandatory. English proficiency is required. The appointment also requires admission to DTU PhD studies and the ability to obtain Danish Government security clearance.
Funding and employment:
the appointment is for 3 years, full-time at 37 hours per week, with salary and employment terms according to the relevant trade union agreement. No fixed stipend amount is stated in the posting.
Application deadline:
16 October 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Copenhagen).
