Joint PhD: Examining beyond-2100 Earth System feedbacks across the model hierarchy

Understanding and quantifying centennial-scale Earth System feedbacks for a wide range of scenarios is key to provide updated information on remaining carbon budgets for policy makers and society alike. This PhD will examine long-term Earth System feedbacks in both a comprehensive JSBACH land surface  component of MPI Earth System Model, and a reduced-complexity carbon cycle model MAGICC. The PhD will in particular focus on using JSBACH in various sensitivity experiments to quantify interactions of carbon cycle with permafrost, nitrogen cycle, and fire components. The PhD project will then develop and calibrate parameterisations in MAGICC to replicate the JSBACH characteristic responses in terms of its carbon and nitrogen pool sizes and timescales, permafrost and fire carbon  emissions etc. 

If successful, the PhD candidate will be enrolled at both the University of Melbourne and Universität Hamburg, and will work in close cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg. The candidate will be co-supervised by supervisors at both institutions and will spend at least twelve months at the University of Melbourne and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology. 

The application process is competitive, with higher than the equivalent of a University of Melbourne 80% in a relevant degree expected. Information on the University of Melbourne entry requirements can be seen here, and Universität Hamburg requirements can be viewed here. 

The successful applicant will be enrolled in the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne. They will be part of the Australian-German Climate and Energy College, the University of Melbourne, and the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), Universität Hamburg. The candidate's scholarship will include a 100% fee remission scholarship, a living allowance for three years with a possible 6-month extension, and funding for travel.