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Research position Atmospheric Cold Extremes near the Surface

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

Are you driven by this challenge to understand cold surface extremes in the Netherlands and beyond?

Job description

Extreme and rapid surface cooling during night has severe impact on our daily lives, as it affects linger on throughout early morning. They may cause local frost or morning fog, resulting in dangerous traffic conditions, or may cause large economic losses in agriculture. Although our group has made recent advancements in our conceptual understanding of such extremes, numerical weather prediction models struggle to accurately predict and represent them. Occurrence of these extremes is linked to the state of the atmospheric boundary layer and its coupling to the underlying land surface.

A better understanding of this coupling and representation thereof in models is therefore key to improve predictions of cold extremes. How much the surface and atmosphere cool is the result of many processes interacting with each other in a non-linear way. As the temperature difference between atmosphere and surface increases, more heat must typically be extracted from the ground, emphasizing its critical impact on the occurrence of cold extremes. This heat transport in turn is dependent on the type of surface cover, for example, short versus tall grass, and dynamically responds to the atmosphere (e.g., cloud cover).

In this project, we will investigate this intricate relation between surface and lower atmosphere by an analysis of novel observational data in combination with high-resolution numerical modelling. For the first time ever, our group has successfully probed temperatures at unprecedented resolutions inside grass, allowing us to analyze the entire temperature profile through an atmosphere-grass-soil continuum. Further, the Dutch Atmospheric Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES) will be used to simulate the turbulent state of the atmospheric boundary layer and its effect on these temperature profiles. Broadly, you will be able to work on the following topics:

• Performing observational analysis on our novel observations and observations from the national meteorological institute, constructing "composite averages".
• Simulating these composites and representative cases in DALES and diagnosing its performance in representing different states of the atmospheric boundary layer.
• Implementing and testing new surface representations in the DALES model, with the aim of better representing observed characteristics.

Are you driven by this challenge to understand cold surface extremes in the Netherlands and beyond? Would you like to learn more about the atmospheric boundary layer and its modelling?

Then consider applying for this research position. You will work in an internationally renowned, curiosity-driven team on atmospheric boundary layers in which we aim to bridge the gap between fundamental knowledge and application. We offer you a team in which creative ideas and personal growth (e.g., in teamwork, presenting science) are encouraged.

Job requirements

Need-to-have requirements:

• An MSc. degree in (applied) physics or meteorology.
• A background in fluid dynamics and mathematical modelling.
• An affinity with conceptual analysis, or a willingness to learn.
• An interest in meteorology, and drive to learn about this.
• Very good command of English (spoken and written).

Nice-to-have requirements:

• Background in numerical modelling of flows.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 18 Months. Temporary.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3546 - €5538 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Additional information

For information about the application procedure, please contact , e-mail:

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 3 March 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A cover letter, incl. your motivation and background.
• Your CV.
• A transcript of your BSc and MSc grades.
• Your MSc. thesis (if available).

You can address your application to Steven van der Linden.