Postdoc in Climate impact modeling of new aircraft fuels and technologies

The aviation sector must over the coming decades go through a transition to non-fossil based technologies and fuels if we are to meet the climate targets in the Paris agreement. We search for a two-year post-doc who wants to analyze, model and understand the climate impacts of aviation. The aim of the project is to improve approaches for climate impact assessment of new aircraft technologies and fuels.

Information about the division and the department
The position is a collaborative project between two departments at Chalmers, the Department of Space, Earth and Environment and the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. The post-doc will be hired at the Department of Space, Earth, and Environment and be placed at the division of Physical Resource Theory.

The Department of Space, Earth and Environment contains five divisions, with research and education spanning from global challenges related to sustainability and energy supply to astronomy and space sciences. The division of Physical Resource Theory carries out research and education on potential solutions to our major environmental challenges, e.g. global warming and sustainable use of land and other resources. A range of different quantitative and qualitative methods are used in the division. The ambition is to build challenge-driven scientific excellence by crossing traditional boundaries and increase the level of multi-disciplinarity in research. The division has around 50 staff members, faculty and PhD-students with diverse expertise, including engineers, natural and social scientists. We also offer courses in areas related to our research.

Project description
The position will focus on assessing the climate impact of new aircraft technologies and fuels. The assessment will in part be based on reduced complexity climate modeling tools for assessing the climate impacts of aviation. The post-doc will work with modelling and developing code, as well as contribute with input for scenario construction to study the mitigation potential with a hydrogen combusting passenger aircraft. Furthermore, the post-doc will also develop assumptions on market introduction (number of aircraft sold over time), fleet dynamics (how the fleet of these aircraft expand, while taking new and retired aircraft into account), integrate these scenarios with emission modeling and estimate the consequential climate impacts.

The position is planned to actively collaborate with researchers at German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Delft University and build up Chalmers expertise on the use of a new open source tool for aviation modelling and climate: OpenAirClim3. The software is developed by DLR but will be used in this project in order to target an improved the understanding of the climate impact of the use of hydrogen in aviation. To stimulate the interaction with Delft/DLR the candidate will interact with researchers in the ongoing EU project MINIMAL. MINIMAL includes researchers from both Chalmers and Delft/DLR. Through this project the post doc will be given the opportunity to travel and network with relevant researchers.

Major responsibilities
As a post-doc your main responsibility is to pursue the research layout in the project plan. You are expected to work independently, have the ability to plan and organize your work, to work in close collaboration with other project partners, and to be able to communicate scientific results, both orally and in written form. For this specific position it will be critical to develop the relevant models and tools, analyze model results and contribute to the write up of scientific papers. Furthermore, the position includes up to 20% teaching.

Qualifications
To qualify for the position, you must have a PhD in climate science, atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, physics, or any other any other relevant field of natural science or engineering. The candidate needs to have knowledge about and experience in quantitative modeling methods, and be able to proficiently communicate in English. Swedish is not a requirement but Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Experience in interdisciplinary research is meritorious.

Contract terms
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
To apply, please go to https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=11143&rmlang=UK

Application deadline: 2022-12-18

For questions, please contact:
Associate Professor, Daniel Johansson, Phsyica Resource Theory, SEE
E-mail: daniel.johansson@chalmers.se
Phone: +46721907431

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***