ERC-Funded Postdoctoral Positions in Natural Hazards (2 positions) Full-time

ERC-Funded Postdoctoral Positions in Natural Hazards

Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences

ERC-Funded Postdoctoral Positions in Natural Hazards with focus on Catastrophic Failure (2 positions)

Are you interested in working on cutting-edge research within a European Research Council (ERC)-funded project, together with competent and friendly colleagues in an international research environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe and favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoc position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences is Sweden's most comprehensive academic environment for research and education in geoscience. It offers a broad range of expertise that can contribute to solving important societal issues.

Earth is a dynamic and constantly changing planet. To understand how this planet works, our researchers seek answers in the field, through laboratory experiments and advanced models. Our research and education cover a wide range of disciplines, including rocks and minerals, weather and climate, the evolution of life, natural disasters, wind power and energy, environmental and water engineering, and sustainable development.

Our research combines natural sciences and technology with social sciences and is often interdisciplinary. More than 300 people from over 30 countries work at the department, both in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland.

Our six research divisions:

• Geophysics • Air, Water and Landscape Science • Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics • Natural Resources and Sustainable Development • Palaeobiology • Wind Energy

The successful candidate will join the research program Air, Water and Landscape Sciences (LUVAL)

The research will be conducted within an ERC Consolidator Grant project (FORECAST) at Uppsala University focused on advancing next-generation prediction science for geohazards through an interdisciplinary framework integrating geomechanics, geophysics, statistical physics, and data-driven modelling. The project addresses a wide range of natural hazards, including landslides, rockbursts, glacier instabilities, and volcanic eruptions, with the aim of improving our ability to diagnose and forecast catastrophic failure in complex geophysical systems. The postdoctoral researchers will join a dynamic international research team and collaborate with leading researchers and international partners working on geohazard forecasting and risk mitigation.

What we offer:

• Prestigious ERC Funding – Join a well-funded ERC Consolidator Grant with a long-term research vision.
• Frontier Research – Work on next-generation prediction science for catastrophic natural hazards.
• Interdisciplinary Environment – Collaborate across geomechanics, geophysics, statistical physics, and data science.
• International Network – Engage with leading researchers and international partners.
• Research Independence – Develop your own ideas within a dynamic and supportive research team.
• Career Development – Receive mentorship in publishing, grant writing, and academic career progression.
• Leadership Experience – Co-supervise PhD students and contribute to the development of the ERC programme.
• Excellent Working Conditions – Benefit from advanced research infrastructure, including high-performance computing resources, and enjoy the high quality of life offered by Uppsala University.

Duties

The postdoctoral projects will focus on developing physics-based modelling approaches for understanding, diagnosing, and forecasting progressive to catastrophic failure processes in geomaterials at site scale.

Two postdoctoral positions are available: one focusing primarily on glacier instabilities and the other on volcanic eruptions. The projects will combine theoretical modelling, statistical physics, numerical simulations, and monitoring data to investigate the mechanisms governing failure precursors, instability evolution, and predictability in geophysical systems.

The postdoctoral researchers will also have opportunities to co-supervise PhD students working on related topics, including landslides and rockbursts, and contribute to the broader development of the ERC research programme.

Requirements

PhD degree in geomechanics, geophysics, physics, mathematics, or engineering or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in the abovementioned fields. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for applications. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

You should have a strong foundation in mathematics, mechanics, and physics, as well as substantial experience in scientific programming and computational modelling. Evidence of research excellence through peer-reviewed publications is required. The candidate should be able to conduct independent research while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary and international research team.

Additional qualifications

We also strongly encourage the postdoctoral candidate to bring their own ideas, methods, and perspectives to the project—creativity, enthusiasm, and research acumen will be highly valued.

About the employment

2 positions – The employment is a temporary position of 3 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 1st February 2027 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Qinghua Lei (qinghua.lei@geo.uu.se)

The application should include a CV (with a full publication list), PhD degree certificate, PhD thesis, and other relevant documents, as well as the contact details of two referees.

Please submit your application by 14 August 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1959.