The Center for Climate Physics of the Institute for Basic Science at Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea, invites applications for a PhD position in the group of Prof. Christian Franzke.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a project to investigating how climate change affects vector-borne diseases and planetary health. The research will involve numerical model development and data analysis.
Your profile:
- Be excited to work on new and interdisciplinary research subjects
- A high level of curiosity and creativity
- Good communication skills in English
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Experience in data analysis
- Experience in scientific programming (e.g. Matlab, R, Python) on UNIX/LINUX systems
- Degree in Meteorology, Oceanography, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Epidemiology or a related field
We offer:
- A stimulating research environment
- The opportunity to work on cutting edge science questions
- An interdisciplinary PhD program
- Opportunities for developing academic and professional skills
- Competitive financial support (Conference travel and research stays abroad)
Interested candidates should send a complete application package (CV; motivation letter describing background, training and research interests matching the position; degree certificates; and contact information of two references) as a single PDF file to Prof. Christian Franzke (christian.franzke@pusan.ac.kr).
Applications should be submitted before 1st April 2026.
The start date for the PhD position is the academic spring term starting on 1st September 2026.
About the Center for Climate Physics: (https://ibsclimate.org/)
The IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP), directed by Prof. Axel Timmermann, is dedicated to advancing the understanding of natural climate variability, man-made climate change and their impacts on the hydrological cycle, regional processes, ice-sheets, and sea level. The ICCP is generously funded through the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) (http://ibs.re.kr). ICCP is located in Busan, the second largest city in South Korea and the ninth largest port city in the world. Surrounded by the ocean and mountains, the city has a dramatic natural background. From designer cafes, international movie and art festivals, award-winning restaurants to temples at the end of hiking trails, Busan has something to offer for everyone.
About the department: (https://his.pusan.ac.kr/sites/climate/index.do)
Our PhD program of Integrated Climate System Science provides an integrated graduate-level education in climate and Earth system science. The program is an integral part of the newly established Department of Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change.
Our department offers research oriented education in climate and earth system sciences of an interdisciplinary nature. Faculty expertise lies in atmospheric and ocean dynamics, Earth system predictability and sensitivity, hydrological extremes, weather and climate risks, ocean biogeochemistry, paleo-climate dynamics and climate modeling. We combine theoretical approaches, simulations with a hierarchy of numerical models of different complexity with field work and laboratory analyses.
Our lectures cover a wide range of subjects from atmospheric science, oceanography, climate physics, geophysical fluid dynamics, marine biogeochemistry, numerical modelling to statistics. Our students have also the opportunity to attend field trips and summer schools.
We aim to educate students and provide research opportunities to address cutting-edge questions in integrated climate system research, climate dynamics and climate impacts. Our multidisciplinary climate system science approach gives graduate students a broad perspective on multiscale variability in time and space, and on the interaction between different earth system components, including the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.