Doctoral Researcher, Atmospheric Sciences
The Faculty of Science invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher in atmospheric sciences to start latest in January 2027. This position is part of the AI-Dream project, which aims to explore how AI ‘thinks’ about weather by simplifying complex AI models and testing them under controlled conditions, thereby creating a new generation of weather forecasting tools that are faster, more efficient, and more trustworthy. The doctoral researcher will develop criteria and evaluation suites to test the ‘physical’ accuracy of deep Machine Learning (ML) models and use state-of-the-art methods to make ML models explainable, involving large dataset management in a HPC environment. This work will be conducted within the dynamic meteorology group at INAR, supervised by Dr. Clément Bouvier.
This position is located at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Key qualifications:
- Recently completed an MSc degree in Physics, Meteorology, Computer Science, or any other similar area (MSc students near completion are also encouraged to apply).
- Willingness to pursue a PhD degree in meteorology.
- Good skills in written and spoken English.
- Strong experience in dynamic meteorology.
- Some previous experience in programming in Python and statistical analysis of scientific data is wished for. Previous experience in Machine Learning is an advantage.
- Interest in doing research close to the project scope and ability to independent creative thinking, combined with good self-discipline and reasonable communication skills.
- Willing to visit the University of Cambridge for a period of 3 months to work on the project.
- The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment.
Deadline: August 28th, 2026