Summary
The Data-Driven Atmospheric & Water Dynamics (DAWN) group (Beucler Lab) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) invites applications for a fully funded, 5-year PhD position at the intersection of atmospheric physics and artificial intelligence (AI). Hosted within the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics and UNIL’s Expertise Center for Climate Extremes, the role offers a competitive salary, research travel funding, computing equipment, and access to high-performance GPU/CPU facilities.
Fully-Funded PhD Position in Atmospheric Physics & AI, (DAWN) University of Lausannen, Switzerland
Designation
- Position Title: PhD Student / PhD Researcher
Overview Table
| Feature | Details |
| Host Institution | University of Lausanne (UNIL) |
| Research Group | DAWN Group (Beucler Lab), Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics |
| Funding Status | Fully Funded (Up to 5 years) |
| Annual Salary | ~CHF 54,000 (Year 1) to ~CHF 63,000 (Year 5) |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Application Deadline | September 15, 2026 |
| Desired Start Date | March 1, 2027 |
Research Area
Candidates are encouraged to propose PhD project ideas spanning the fields of Atmospheric Physics and Machine Learning:
- Atmospheric Physics Focus: Aerosol–cloud interactions, air–sea & land–atmosphere interactions, atmospheric convection, atmospheric predictability, cloud-radiation interactions, spatiotemporal downscaling, tropical meteorology, and climate extremes.
- AI & Machine Learning Focus: Causal ML, equation learning/distillation, generative modeling, physics-constrained ML, hybrid physics–AI modeling, interpretable ML, foundation models for climate, scale-aware operator learning, and sustainable AI.
Location
- Campus: Dorigny Campus, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
Eligibility / Qualifications
- Academic Requirements: Master’s degree (or equivalent expected prior to start date) in atmospheric science, climate science, physics, applied mathematics, statistics, computer science, machine learning, data science, or a related discipline.
- Technical Skills: Strong scientific programming abilities (ideally Python) and experience working with scientific or numerical model datasets.
- Foundational Knowledge: Solid background in applied mathematics or physics (calculus, differential equations, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, numerical modeling, or machine learning).
- Language: Proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of French or German is not required.
Job Description
- Conduct innovative, independent research combining atmospheric science and AI techniques.
- Formulate and develop a feasible PhD project plan in collaboration with lab members and collaborators.
- Present research findings at international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
- Maintain open-science practices by sharing reproducible code, workflows, and preprints.
- Actively engage in group meetings, institute activities, and international collaborations.
How to Apply
All application materials must be submitted in PDF format via the UNIL official portal. Generic cover letters are not accepted. Applications must include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Transcripts & Degree Certificates
- Reference Information (Separate PDF): Contact details for two academic or professional references.
- Writing Sample: One lead-authored research report (thesis, manuscript, or technical paper).
- Short Statement (Max 250 words): Describing your favorite research experience, career goals, and teaching/mentoring ambitions.
- PhD Project Proposal (Max 500 words): Outline a creative PhD project idea detailing a tentative title, scientific question, novel contribution, data/models planned, and connection to DAWN research themes.
Last Date for Apply
- Primary Deadline: September 15, 2026
- (Outstanding applications submitted after this date may be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled).
