Postdoctoral Researcher on firn microstructure for the ICELINK Project

About the Position

The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) offers a full-time postdoctoral researcher position to support the research activities of BC3’s IzotzaLab (Research Line 1) in the context of the Horizon Europe ICELINK project (ID: 101184621).

IzotzaLab is BC3’s low-temperature laboratory dedicated to the scientific study of frozen samples, such as ice, firn, snow, permafrost, and others. It is directed by Ikerbasque Professor Sérgio Henrique Faria. Unique in the Iberian Peninsula, the IzotzaLab enables researchers to carry out cutting-edge microscopic analyses in a temperature- and humidity-controlled cold room (e.g., -30 °C at 50% RH, or some other combination of values).

About the Project

ICELINK is a four-year project coordinated by the University of Copenhagen and University of Iceland aiming to bridge the knowledge gap between climate models, ice-flow models, satellite observations, and in-situ observations to accelerate the understanding of how glaciers and ice sheets in the North Atlantic respond to climate change, and their impacts on climate and ecosystems. IzotzaLab’s role in this project is, among other things, to perform a detailed microstructural study of firn samples from Greenland and Iceland for investigating the crystalline structure and the micromechanical processes of firn densification.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher who can co-lead the experimental activities of the IzotzaLab in its microstructural investigation of Arctic firn within the framework of the ICELINK project, alongside completing key activities.

Responsibilities

• Carry out and manage, under the supervision of the PI and with the support of the laboratory technician, most of the MicroFAME experimental work in the IzotzaLab (cold laboratory) and in collaborating laboratories.
• Be in charge of planning, carrying out and managing, under the supervision of the PI, all the field work of the MicroFAME project.
• Write articles and disseminate results.
• Support the organization of project meetings, workshops, and other events directly or indirectly related to the project.
• Contribute to the training and mentoring of other team members.

Requirements

Required:

• Degree in Geology or Geophysics.
• PhD in Glaciology or related field.
• Training in ice-core studies.
• Training in snow science.
• Training in stratigraphy and crystallography.
• At least 4 years of experience in cold laboratory work and ice microscopy, including firn sample preparation with microtome.
• Experience in glaciological field work of snow/firn studies.
• Experience in ice deformation tests.
• Fluency in Spanish: native speaker or C2 level.
• Fluency in English: advanced skills, to be assessed during the interview.

Nice to Have:

• Experience operating the Leica™ DM6M microscope.
• Advanced experience with Leica™ LASX software, especially the scanning tools for mosaic building.
• Experience with the ImageJ software.
• Experience with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model HYSPLIT.
• Experience collaborating with international teams.
• Availability and willingness to travel internationally under short notice.
• Experience writing and publishing scientific articles in indexed journals.
• Experience organizing international events and conferences.
• Experience in science communication and interviews in Spanish.
• Knowledge of the ISO 14001:2015 standard and its application for the organization of conferences, field work, and laboratory activities.
• Experience in environmental chemistry.
• Experience in research project management.
• Basic experience programming with R-Studio.
• Basic experience with GIS software, like QGIS, MapInfo, etc.

We Offer

• Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment.
• Quiet and spacious workspaces.
• Possibility of participating in the internal training and academic activities of the centre.
• Standard 35-hour workweek calendar.
• 30 days of vacation per year.
• 1 day per week for remote working at home.

Term of Contract

The contract will be for a period of one year, including a six-month probationary period based on performance.

Salary

The gross annual salary for this position is €34,320.00.

About the Company

As an HR Excellence-awarded institution, BC3 is committed to reconciling research and academic requirements with family responsibilities. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equal opportunities for people regardless of sex and gender. Anyone with relevant qualifications is therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.

Application Procedure

Fill the form below and upload ONE PDF document with the following information:

Cover letter

DO NOT INCLUDE CERTIFICATES or any other documents other than those explicitly requested above.

Please consider that only applications sent through the form included at the bottom of the BC3 web page will be considered here.

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. S.H. Faria noting in the subject of the message “Postdoctoral Researcher – ICELINK project”.

Contact: S.H. Faria, [email protected]

Deadline: 15 July, 2026

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.