The vacancy is open in the Dutch or French linguistic role, this is a non-binding translation of the profile into English

The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI) and the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) invite applications for a full-time position in variability and predictability of Belgian climate. The position consists in a 50% postdoctoral position at UCLouvain and a 50% position as first assistant (SW2) at RMI, and implies strong interactions between the two institutions.

The institutions

UCLouvain is a comprehensive university offering, in the context of the present position, the opportunity of cross-disciplinary research and teaching collaborations. The position is attached to the Earth and Life Research lnstitute (Eli) that offer opportunities for diverse and stimulating teaching as well as an environment to carry out ambitious research.

The Royal Meteorological lnstitute of Belgium (RMI) is a scientific federal institution, engaged in meteorology and climatology, and reporting to the State Secretary in charge of Science Policy. RMl's mission is to provide a reliable 7/24 public service realized by empowered staff and based on research, innovation and continuity RM1 research covers the fields of hydro-meteorology, climatology and geophysics based on validated observations collected through networks. Multidisciplinary tools and methods are implemented in order to tackle problems of current concern in meteorology and climatology.

The Louvain-la-Neuve site of UCLouvain and the Royal Meteorological lnstitute site in Brussels offer a unique modern living environment inside a naturally preserved neighbourhood. Louvain-la-Neuve is conveniently located to the heart of Europe and very close to Brussels, facilitating the exchanges between the two institutions.

Context

The position is open in the framework of FED-tWIN program, a federal research program from the Belgian Science Policy Office to promote sustainable cooperation between Federal Scientific Institutions and Belgian universities through the funding of joint research profiles. The general theme is ‘Modelling and forecasting the climate system from seasonal to decadal timescales over Europe using state of-the-art models and tools from non-linear sciences’ (FED-tWIN2019-prf069 - SEAMLESS).

Research

The successful candidate will develop and drive a cutting-edge research in the field of regional climate variability and predictability on seasonal-to-decadal timescales, with focus on Belgium. Specifically, the tasks imply: 1/ A reconstruction of the regional climate over the past 2 centuries from long instrumental series existing for Belgium and neighboring countries using data assimilation techniques in global climate models and downscaling techniques. This will provide a unique dataset to understand how climatic variability over Belgium (including extremes) fits in the variability at larger scales. 2/ An analysis of the origin of the variations at seasonal to decadal timescales observed in this long reconstruction using advances causal methods. 3/ Based of this better understanding of the regional climate dynamics, the development and the test over the past century of a prediction system for Belgium using statistical or machine learning techniques.

The research program will be conducted at the international level, in collaboration with the major centers and universities developing such approaches, and at the same time, will lead to the development of climate services in Belgium, for the benefit of the general public, the private sector and public authorities.

Specific Qualification(s)

The researcher should ideally have expertise in atmospheric and climate modelling, and in advanced tools of nonlinear sciences (data assimilation, causal methods, machine learning). Since all those fields of expertise are not easy to find in a single scientist, the researcher should have expertise at least in one of them, with keen interest to develop the other ones in collaboration with scientists from RMI and UCLouvain. The new expert will have by essence an interdisciplinary profile with a strong taste in learning new approaches and techniques in such a way to build a solid bridge between both institutions.

In practice, the applicant must have a PhD degree in science, applied science or any related discipline with proved PhD or post-doc experience in meteorology, climate science and/or nonlinear sciences.

The PhD degree must have been obtained a maximum of 12 years before the final date for submitting application files. The period covered is extended by one year per period of full-time maternity, parental or adoption leave, or for the actual duration of documented periods of long-term illness of the candidate or a first-degree family member.

Practical Information

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

Starting date: 1^st September, 2025 but could be negotiated

Full time position for up to 60 months

Localization:     Earth and life institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

AND  Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Uccle, Belgium

Net monthly salary: 2900-3600 € (depending on seniority)

Social insurance and the transportation to and from the workplace are also covered.

Applications should be sent to the RMIB at the email address: spocfedtwin@meteo.be. It should include (i) a statement of research experience, qualification and interest, (ii) a complete CV including a list of publications, and (iii) the name of two scientists who would agree to send a letter of recommendation (iv) proofs of your master and PhD degrees.