Postdoctoral Researcher in Arctic Sea-Ice and Initialised Climate Prediction

The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth. DMI is looking for a scientist to uncover how Arctic sea-ice predictability evolves in a warming climate and to pioneer AI-enhanced approaches that advance our ability to predict sea-ice conditions from seasonal to multi-annual timescales.

The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) opens a 4-year, full time position for a post doc research scientist in the Danish National Centre for Climate Research (NCKF), to work with AI-facilitated climate predictions of a seasonally ice-free Arctic in the Novo Nordic Foundation project IcyAlert (https://icyalert.github.io/).

IcyAlert (Intelligent Climate Early Warning Alert for Arctic Ice-Free Summers) is a research project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF). The project goal is to improve predictions of Arctic ice-free summers and its potential climate impacts at multi-seasonal time scale using global climate models, causal analysis and machine learning. IcyAlert is led by DMI, in partnership with the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

As part of NCKF at DMI, you will work in a research department with a strong profile in both global and regional climate modelling, as well as remote sensing. You will be part of the Global Climate unit in NCKF.

Your main tasks and responsibilities In the IcyAlert project you will focus on how winter climate states and key physical drivers influence subsequent sea-ice evolution and predictability across seasonal to multi-annual timescales.

Building on causal relationships identified by RMI, you will use probabilistic AI methods to generate targeted initial-condition ensembles for sensitivity experiments.

You will then conduct and analyse both initialised ensemble prediction experiments for Arctic sea ice using the EC-Earth model system (https://ec-earth.org/), which is already running at DMI, to evaluate which winter variables or processes contribute most strongly to subsequent summer sea-ice predictability. The resulting process understanding and datasets will feed back into the ML-based, observation-driven Arctic sea-ice prediction system developed in collaboration with DTU.

You can expect to contribute to climate-impact assessments, including applications related to Arctic navigability. You will lead and co-author scientific publications and will contribute grant applications.

Your qualifications We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong background in climate prediction, Arctic climate, and/or sea-ice science, as well as experience working with initialised ensemble prediction systems.

Expected qualifications include:

• A PhD in climate science, atmospheric science, oceanography, sea-ice science, Earth-system science, applied mathematics, or a closely related field
• Experience with initialised climate prediction systems, including ensemble-based forecasts or hindcast evaluation, and in working with large climate datasets
• Strong scientific programming skills, particularly in Python, and preferably experience working with HPC environments
• Good communication skills in oral and written English and collaboration skills for working with scientists within DMI and across three project partner institutions. The postdoctoral researcher will play a key role in connecting climate dynamics and initialized ensemble prediction (DMI), with causal methods (RMI), and AI/ML-based prediction (DTU). This will help ensure that IcyAlert forecasts are not only skilful but also physically interpretable and dynamically consistent.

Advanced expertise in developing new machine-learning architectures is not required. More important is the ability to physically understand initialised climate predictions, evaluate whether forecast signals are meaningful, and work effectively with AI/ML and causal-analysis methods developed in the IcyAlert project.

Where relevant, the postdoctoral researcher may also contribute to coordinated multi-annual hindcast experiments, such as the CMIP7/DCPP-A protocol, when this aligns with IcyAlert priorities and EC-Earth climate prediction-system development at DMI.

Who are we? The position is in the Danish National Centre for Climate Research (NCKF) at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), which employs approximately 80 climate scientists of which 25 are located in the Global Climate unit. The companion Centre for Weather Research at DMI employs researchers working with meteorology, oceanography and hydrology. We have a strong international profile, which is also reflected in the many nationalities employed and in the use of both English and Danish as working languages.

NCKF has been established with the purpose to conduct critical climate research for the Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands) and bring together climate knowledge, to form the basis for green transition and climate adaptation. The activities include assessments of observed and future climate change of the physical climate system, with focus on the Polar regions and on extreme weather and sea level around Denmark. Across the department, climate research builds on both global and regional modelling as well as observations from remote sensing, in-situ measurements and field work. NCKF also develops the Danish Climate Atlas (Klimaatlas) which contains detailed data about expected future changes in the climate of Denmark.

DMI is part of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities. As of December 1, 2026, DMI will merge with our sister agency, Danish Agency for Climate Data, to become “DMI, Maps and Basic Data”. DMI is the government’s climate science advisor, creating and communicating knowledge about weather, climate and the sea to the Danish Realm. DMI’s warnings, weather forecasts and services safeguard life and infrastructure and provide a basis for planning in a changing climate. We have approximately 350 employees, most of whom work at DMI’s headquarters at Sankt Kjelds Gård in Østerbro, Copenhagen. After the merge, the new organization will have more than 600 employees.

Employment and Salary Will be in accordance with Danish Law and Agreements, specifically the Collective Agreement for State-Employed Academics (AC-overenskomsten). It will be possible to negotiate an addition to the basic salary depending on your qualifications and experience. DMI offers a flexible working week of 37 hours including a paid lunch break, and six weeks of paid vacation annually. If you come from abroad, there is a possibility for a reduced tax scheme the first 7 years in Denmark.

The position is a full-time position, limited to a duration of 4 years.

For further details about the position, please contact the Head of Global Climate unit, Ole Krarup Leth, at +45 23 82 72 23 or by e-mail at okl@dmi.dk or senior scientist and IcyAlert project leader Tian Tian at+45 24 81 32 03 or by e-mail tian@dmi.dk .

Apply now Please enclose a cover letter, a curriculum vitae (incl. publication list) and contacts for relevant professional references. Please note that applications may be shared with relevant project partners from DTU and RMI as a part of the recruitment process.

At DMI, diversity is an important value to us because we believe that an inclusive, versatile work environment strengthens task fulfilment. We actively work to foster diversity in our employee composition, reflected in our inclusive workplace and a balance between work and family life. We encourage everyone to apply for the position regardless of age, gender, sexuality, religion or ethnicity.

To apply for the position, please use the official link below and follow the instructions.