Fully Funded PhD (2) and Postdoc (1) Positions in Arctic Climate-Fire Research at VU Amsterdam, Netherlands (2026)

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Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), Netherlands, has announced a major team recruitment under the prestigious Dutch Research Council (NWO) Vici project “FireSky ⚡: Fire from the Sky – Impact and Management of Lightning Fires on Permafrost Carbon.” The project includes:

  • 2 Fully Funded PhD Positions

  • 1 Fully Funded Postdoctoral Researcher Position

The interdisciplinary project combines climate science, remote sensing, permafrost research, wildfire dynamics, machine learning, and Arctic fieldwork to investigate how increasing lightning fires affect permafrost carbon and climate feedbacks in northern high-latitude ecosystems.

Applications are open until 14 June 2026.

About the FireSky Project

The FireSky project is a five-year research initiative funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and led by:

Dr. Sander Veraverbeke

Climate & Ecosystems Change Research Group
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The project studies how climate warming increases lightning-driven wildfires in Arctic and boreal ecosystems and how these fires contribute to:

  • Permafrost thaw

  • Carbon release

  • Greenhouse gas emissions

  • Climate feedback loops

The research combines:

  • Satellite remote sensing

  • Field campaigns

  • Geospatial analysis

  • Climate modelling

  • Artificial intelligence

  • Permafrost carbon studies

Field campaigns will take place in:

  • Alaska (USA)

  • Canada

The project also includes collaboration with internationally recognized partners including:

  • University of East Anglia

  • Woodwell Climate Research Center

  • Alaska Fire Science Consortium

Available Research Topics

The research team will focus on three major themes:

1. Remote Sensing of Boreal Fires

Researchers will analyze wildfire dynamics using satellite datasets, including the new FireSat constellation.

Main approaches include:

  • Geospatial analysis

  • Satellite data processing

  • Climate-fire modelling

  • Large-scale remote sensing

2. Fire-Induced Permafrost Thaw and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

This topic combines:

  • Field measurements

  • Remote sensing

  • Permafrost studies

  • Carbon cycle analysis

Researchers will investigate how wildfire-induced thaw affects Arctic carbon release and ecosystem dynamics.

3. Lightning Fire Occurrences

This topic focuses on:

  • Lightning-driven wildfire prediction

  • Explainable AI techniques

  • Climate-fire feedbacks

  • Large geospatial datasets

Strong experience or interest in machine learning and explainable AI is highly valuable for this topic.

PhD Position Details

The two PhD researchers will work on one of the three project themes using combinations of:

  • Fieldwork

  • Remote sensing

  • Modelling

  • Climate datasets

  • Geospatial analysis

Main responsibilities include:

  • Large-scale satellite data analysis

  • Climate and ecosystem modelling

  • Publishing peer-reviewed papers

  • Presenting at conferences

  • Contributing to teaching activities

Applicants working on field-focused projects should be comfortable with remote Arctic-boreal environments and logistical field challenges.

Postdoctoral Position Details

The postdoctoral researcher will investigate interactions between:

  • Climate change

  • Lightning

  • Wildfires

  • Permafrost thaw

  • Carbon emissions

The project combines:

  • Field observations

  • Satellite remote sensing

  • Climate modelling

  • Big geospatial datasets

  • AI and machine learning

The postdoc will collaborate closely with project team members and international research partners while publishing high-impact scientific research.

Candidate Requirements

For PhD Applicants

Candidates should have:

  • MSc in:

    • Earth Sciences

    • Environmental Sciences

    • Ecology

    • Climate Science

    • Or related disciplines

Applicants should also demonstrate:

  • Interest in climate change and Earth systems

  • Coding skills (preferably Python)

  • GIS and statistical modelling experience

  • Ability to handle large datasets

  • Strong communication skills

For fieldwork-focused projects:

  • Interest in Arctic fieldwork

  • Driver’s license required

For Postdoc Applicants

Candidates should possess:

  • PhD in:

    • Earth Sciences

    • Climate Science

    • Environmental Science

    • Or related fields

Required skills include:

  • Advanced Python programming

  • Data analysis expertise

  • Geospatial processing

  • Machine learning or explainable AI

  • Climate science research experience

Salary and Benefits

PhD Salary

  • €3,059 – €3,881 gross per month

Contract Duration

  • Initial 1-year contract

  • Extended to 4 years after positive evaluation

Postdoc Salary

  • €3,546 – €5,538 gross per month

Contract Duration

  • Initial 1-year contract

  • Extendable to 3 years after evaluation

Additional Benefits

VU Amsterdam offers:

  • 232 annual leave hours

  • Additional leave options

  • 8% holiday allowance

  • 8.3% end-of-year bonus

  • Hybrid working possibilities

  • Sports facilities

  • International research collaborations

  • Research visits to partner institutions

Why This Opportunity Is Exceptional

The FireSky project stands out because it combines:

  • Climate science

  • Arctic ecology

  • Wildfire dynamics

  • Permafrost carbon research

  • Remote sensing

  • AI and machine learning

  • International field campaigns

The project directly addresses one of the most critical climate feedback mechanisms in the Arctic.

Researchers will gain experience in:

  • Satellite data science

  • Arctic fieldwork

  • Climate modelling

  • Earth system science

  • High-impact international collaborations

The interdisciplinary structure also provides strong preparation for future academic and research careers in climate and environmental sciences.

About the Department of Earth Sciences

The project is hosted within the Department of Earth Sciences at VU Amsterdam.

Research areas include:

  • Climate dynamics

  • Environmental change

  • Surface processes

  • Sustainability science

  • Earth system modelling

The department offers:

  • International research environment

  • Advanced facilities

  • Interdisciplinary collaboration

  • Strong global research reputation

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is one of the Netherlands’ leading research universities with:

  • More than 31,000 students

  • Over 6,000 staff members

  • Strong interdisciplinary science programs

  • Internationally recognized climate and sustainability research

The university is located in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, one of Europe’s major scientific and business hubs.

Application Requirements

PhD Applications

Applicants should submit:

  • Motivation letter (max 1 page)

  • Short CV (max 1 page)

  • Grade list

  • MSc thesis or draft

  • Two references

Applicants must specify their preferred research topic(s).

Postdoc Applications

Applicants should submit:

  • Motivation letter

  • Research idea (max 1 page)

  • Short CV

  • Two references

The research idea should focus on one or more FireSky themes or related Arctic-boreal climate-fire feedback topics.

APPLY HERE: OFFICIAL JOB APPLICATION PORTAL

Interview Schedule

First Round Interviews

  • 23–25 June 2026

Second Round Interviews

  • 6–9 July 2026

Second-round interviews may be conducted:

  • On-site (travel reimbursed)

  • Online if needed

Final Thoughts

The FireSky project at VU Amsterdam offers one of the most exciting climate science opportunities currently available in Europe.

With strong funding, Arctic field campaigns, advanced satellite science, AI integration, and international collaborations, these PhD and postdoctoral positions provide outstanding training for researchers interested in climate change, wildfire science, remote sensing, and Earth system feedbacks.

Researchers passionate about climate resilience, Arctic ecosystems, and environmental data science should strongly consider applying.

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