CDD
Researcher in large-scale atmospheric circulation in polar regions (F/M)
Contexte
The TRACCS research program (Transforming Climate Modelling for Climate Services, https://pepr-traccs.fr/en/) gathers the French climate modelling community. Its activities cover the fundamental understanding of climate change and its impacts, and extend to the development of prototype climate services co-constructed by stakeholders and climate modelling experts. The challenge is to accelerate the development of climate models to meet society’s expectations in terms of climate action, particularly in the area of adaptation to future climate change. The proposed position is part of the TRACCS-PC9-ISCLIM project (https://pepr-traccs.fr/projet/pc9-isclim-en/), whose aim is to study the evolution of polar ice sheets, to better constrain their contribution to sea level rise, and to investigate their interactions with the other components of the climate system.
Description
The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets contribute to sea-level change through their surface mass balance (mainly snow accumulation and liquid water runoff) and through the ice flow towards the ocean. Significant efforts are currently underway to improve the modelling of climate–ice sheet interactions, in particular by coupling ice-flow models with coupled ocean–atmosphere climate models, as well as through the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (ISMIP; https://www.ismip.org), whose climate forcings are selected from ensembles of CMIP climate simulations.
This research position aims to assess and improve the representation of large-scale atmospheric circulation in global climate models over polar regions, as it directly impacts the Greenland and Antarctic climates. The approach will consist of defining metrics, along with associated uncertainties, that characterise large-scale circulation patterns affecting the ice sheets and that can be used to discard implausible models. These metrics will be used to evaluate and select forcing for the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project 7 (ISMIP7), which recently began in the context of the CMIP7 Fast Track. They will also be applied to improve and adjust the IPSL-CM Earth System Model using automatic tuning techniques in collaboration with TRACCS-PC6-QUINTET (https://pepr-traccs.fr/projet/pc6-quintet-en/).
The underlying scientific question to be addressed concerns the spread of surface mass balance projections related to large-scale dynamics under plausible present-day climate variability. The metrics will target heat and moisture transport toward the poles, including mean state variables and stationary and transient fluxes, as well as the vertical profiles of moisture and temperature. A particular attention will be given to the characterisation of regional-scale to large-scale pressure gradients, including zonal waviness and blocks. The evaluation of the defined metrics may be carried out by running short regional simulations over Greenland and Antarctica, in which surface mass balance can be assessed.
How to apply
Applicants should send an email to , , with the subject “Application for PD-Polar metrics” and the following attached documents:
1. A CV including the work experiences and the main achievements
2. A covering letter stating your main interest and evidencing how you qualify for the project and position
Deadline for application: 18/02/2026
Pre-selected candidates will be invited to an interview. Letters of recommendation will be requested for finalist candidates.
Compétences requises
The applicant must have a PhD in atmospheric or climate science. This position is at destination of a researcher who will lead the project and organise the collaborative research work.
Required scientific skills
- Experience in statistical analysis, including handling large datasets and assessing uncertainties and significance.
- Experience analysing climate model simulations
Valued scientific skills (optional)
- Research experience in analysing large-scale atmospheric circulation or conducting heat or moisture budgets.
- Prior research on polar climate
- Familiarity with automatic tuning, optimisation, or statistical calibration methods applied to climate or Earth system models.
Technical skills
- Experience with climate data formats and tools, particularly NetCDF and common data-processing workflows for climate model outputs.
- Proficiency in Python, including the use of standard scientific and climate-analysis libraries
- Proficiency in Unix/Linux environments, including shell scripting and use of high-performance computing (HPC) systems, such as job scheduling.
Soft skills
- Strong collaborative and coordination abilities
- Excellent scientific communication skills, written and oral.
- High level of autonomy and responsibility, with the capacity to independently steer research directions while aligning with the broader TRACCS programme.
