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Size-dependent turbulent dust transport in idealised and realistic high-resolution simulations

Dust-DN doctoral network – DC14

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Supervisors: Martina Klose and Carlos Pérez García-Pando

The Dust-DN doctoral network

Atmospheric dust or mineral dust (or simply “dust”) is a major atmospheric aerosol, and it gives us one of the most visible and detectable aspects of transboundary transport of atmospheric constituents, impacting visibility, radiation and climate. What is less evident are its quantitative impacts on health, transportation and energy production. Atmospheric dust is not fully understood at the fundamental level (microphysical properties, dust emissions, source regions) and hence atmospheric models fail to fully reproduce its impacts. Moreover, dust observations using ground-based instrumentation, remote sensing and aircraft are abundant, but not evenly distributed; in particular they are missing near the major dust sources. Moreover, the techniques are still under development, with each giving a different picture of a phenomenon with multiple facets. For example, it is now known that super-coarse and giant dust particles have gone undetected for a long time due to limitations in the measurement and modelling tools that have been in use for decades, and this misdetection alters the understanding and the prediction of a number of processes. Finally, dust affects the environment, society, and several economic sectors, with impacts on the transportation and energy sectors for example, the nature and cost of which is not fully understood and quantified. Several methodologies exist to study mineral dust, each giving its own differing picture of a complex phenomenon: numerical modelling, remote sensing, in-situ observations, laboratory research.

We establish the Dust Doctoral Network (Dust-DN), in order to address gaps in the understanding of dust and its impacts by linking the different disciplines and methods. The aim is to train a team of early career scientists into overcoming compartmentalism in this field of science, and into developing a multi-disciplinary approach to mineral dust. Dust-DN will set up a network of academic and non-academic partners working on different aspects of dust research, and will coordinate a program of doctoral projects that will enhance knowledge across a broad range of fundamental, but linked, components of the atmospheric dust life cycle and its impacts. The projects will span across the disciplines of atmospheric sciences (dust processes, modelling, and remote sensing), geology (dust emissions and source regions), as well as the impacts on society and economic sectors. The knowledge will be shared among participating institutions and the wider public and scientific community. Common activities will be held, so as to enhance the network among the partner institutions and among the doctoral researchers, delivering an ambitious advanced training program for capacity building.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

KIT, the research university within the Helmholtz Association, combines three core tasks — research, education and innovation — into a single mission. With 9,400 employees and 25,000 students, it is one of the largest institutions of research and higher education in natural sciences and engineering in Europe. KIT was awarded the title “University of Excellence” within the German Excellence Strategy launched by the federal and state governments on 19 July 2019. In the area of Atmospheric Science, KIT is ranked #1 in Germany by the Shanghai Ranking of Academic Subjects. With the Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS), KIT has a central unit dedicated to promoting young scientists, such as doctoral students. KIT actively supports equality, diversity, and inclusion, and as an equal opportunity employer, KIT explicitly encourages applications from women as well as from others with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Applicants with disabilities will be preferentially considered if suitably qualified.

The selected candidate will be working at the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO) at KIT. IMKTRO participates in the KIT Centers “Climate and Environment” and “MathSEE (Mathematics in Sciences, Engineering, and Economics)” and contributes significantly to the research program “Changing Earth” of the Helmholtz Association. The Helmholtz Young Investigator Group “Mineral Dust” at IMKTRO, led by Dr. Martina Klose, is dedicated to advancing understanding of dust processes and impacts. 

The doctoral project

Doctoral Candidate 14 (DC14) – “Size-dependent turbulent dust transport in idealised and realistic high-resolution simulations”

To be enrolled in the Faculty of Physics at KIT. 

This project aims to estimate the impact of turbulence on vertical dust transport, considering both irregular and coherent turbulent structures. Toward this aim, the doctoral candidate will conduct idealised large-eddy simulations (LES) with the ICON-ART model to statistically quantify vertical motions under different atmospheric stability conditions and in selected scenarios of organised turbulence, e.g. vortex roles; investigate size-dependent dust transport using a Eulerian model representation, with particle sizes ranging from fine to giant; explore coupling with a Lagrangian particle model. Finally, she or he will use data from the J-WADI comprehensive field campaign and from existing storm-resolving global model simulations to investigate micro- and meso-scale turbulent structures and link them with the statistical investigation using LES. The doctoral candidate will be based at KIT in Karlsruhe, Germany, and will be supervised by Dr. Martina Klose (KIT) and Dr. Carlos Pérez García-Pando (Barcelona Supercomputing Center). The project will include two planned secondments: the first one of 1-2 months at the National Observatory of Athens (Greece) at the beginning of the second year of the project and the second one of 2-3 months at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Spain, at the end of the second project year. 

Details

The recruited doctoral candidate will be enrolled in the Faculty of Physics at KIT and included in the “Dust Doctoral Network”, which involves highly prestigious research groups on this scientific topic, and which will ensure that the cohort of doctoral candidates is integrated in a dynamic and enthusiastic scientific environment. The doctoral candidate will learn about the consortium partners’ unique facilities and research topics/methods, and will exploit these opportunities for their research. All Dust-DN doctoral candidates will work side-by-side with lead scientists at world-leading institutes, and they will:

  • Take responsibility for the scientific project that they are involved in, and the instruments and/or software required.
  • Collect scientific knowledge through experiments and/or numerical modelling, and data analysis.
  • Develop tailor-made data processing methods.
  • Advance the fields of research in atmospheric dust and/or the related measurement and/or modelling techniques.
  • Participate in the Dust Doctoral Network training and networking activities.
  • Publish research results in scientific peer reviewed journals, and present at conferences and workshops.

Qualification Requirements

  • The candidates are required to have an excellent master’s degree (or equivalent) in a physical or mathematical science subject (or other natural science discipline) and must not have any kind of PhD degree.
  • Very good knowledge of the physics of the atmosphere
  • Very good programming skills (e.g. Fortran, C++, Python, shell script, etc.)
  • Very good English language and communication skills 
  • Motivation for research on atmospheric dust
  • Ability to work independently and in a team
  • Proactive attitude
  • Strong international mobility for the purpose of research, training, and dissemination is mandatory.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional appreciated skills and competencies are:

  • Experience with numerical modelling
  • Experience with high-performance computing
  • Previous knowledge in dust / atmospheric aerosols / boundary layer turbulence

Eligibility Requirements

  • Qualifications:  The candidate must hold a title satisfying the admission requirements for a doctoral candidate at the institution where they will be enrolled (see qualification requirements). A doctoral degree in any field is not compatible with these positions.
  • Mobility: Transnational mobility is an essential requirement of MSCA Doctoral Networks. At the time of recruitment, the candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Applicants must be aware that seconding periods are planned for this position as described above. International applicants are welcomed. 

Rights and Responsibilities of Researchers Participating in Marie Skłodwska-Curie Actions
The European Charter for Researchers is a set of general principles and requirements which specify the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of both researchers and the employers and/or funders of researchers. The aim of the Charter is to ensure that the nature of the relationship between researchers and employers or funders is conducive to successful performance in generating, transferring, sharing and disseminating knowledge and technological development and to the career development of the researchers.

It is obligatory for applicants to read and understand the detailed information regarding the rights and responsibilities of researchers engaged in an MSCA Doctoral Network.

The European Charter for researchers can be accessed at: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/european-charter

Employment Contract and Financial Aid

The selected candidate will be appointed under a 36-months full-time employment contract. A competitive financial aid package will be offered to the successful candidate with a gross annual salary of approximately €38,318 (living allowance and mobility allowance). The exact amount may vary slightly depending on individual circumstances. In addition, there can be further allowances depending on family status and other needs, as per MSCA relevant provisions.

It is understood that failure to successfully continue the PhD program will result in immediate cancellation of the employment contract and the financial support provided.

Start date

The position is planned to start on 1st February 2025 or as otherwise agreed. The position is full-time, funded for a period of 36 months.

Application and selection

Application advisory: A pre-screening of the candidates will be made by the Dust-DN consortium as a first step prior to the formal recruitment process. Candidates should submit a CV and motivation letter on the Dust-DN website, together with their university transcripts and the name and contact information of two referees, and indicating up to 3 preferred doctoral projects (in order of preference) amongst the ones advertised within the whole Dust-DN (which includes the one in the present advert). It is very important that the motivation letter should recall each of the qualification requirements and preferred qualifications indicated in this advert, clearly justifying how the candidate is able to meet each of them, and providing evidence. After short-listing, the most suitable candidates will be called for an interview.

Formal recruitment phase: The most highly-ranked applicants interviewed during the application advisory phase will be re-directed for the formal application.

With the submission of the documents, applicants agree that the documents will be shared among all supervisors of the Dust-DN consortium and members of the respective shortlisting and interviewing panels.

Dust-DN respects and supports the compatibility of professional and private life and promotes development opportunities for its cohort of doctoral researchers. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment.

Deadlines:

Applications for the advisory phase must be submitted by 31 August 2024.

Deadline extended to 30 September 2024

The formal application deadline is planned to be 30 November 2024.

We reserve the possibility to extend the deadline(s).

Contact Information

For further information, please contact Dr. Martina Klose (e-mail: martina.klose@kit.edu).

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