About this role
Work & Live in Greater Rotterdam The Hague PhD Position in Ocean - Sea Ice Interactions (Delft, NL, 2628 CD) Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Intern Posted on Sep 22, 2026 Deploy detailed models of coupled ocean / sea ice processes, probe their turbulent interactions, compare with observations, and design parameterizations for global climate models. Job description The past decades have been associated with substantial losses of sea ice over both hemispheres. Existing climate models are currently unable to accurately forecast these changes, in part due to their imperfect representation of ocean and sea ice interactions at sub-grid scales. This project aims to improve our physical understanding of these fine-scale processes, including the melting and breakage of sea ice, using a framework consisting of an ocean Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and a Discrete Element Model (DEM) of sea ice. Results from these simulations will be validated against a combination of in-situ and remote sensing data from both the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice regions. Based on this new understanding, the candidate will develop parameterizations that can emulate these physics for use in more coarsely-resolved climate models. This fully-funded position is part of the European Research Council (ERC) 'ICE-FLOE' project, and will involve collaborations with other team members at TU Delft and internationally. There may also be the opportunity to assist with a research cruise in Antarctica. Job requirements - Master's degree in Earth sciences, oceanography, physics, applied mathematics, or engineering. - Demonstrated research experience in climate, oceanography, the cryosphere, or atmospheric science. - Interest in the intersection of solid/fluid mechanics. - Experience working with the Julia programming language is an advantage but not required. - Ability to work independently. - Excellent command of written and spoken English. - Ability to start ...