Research Assistant Full-time NEW

Research Assistant

Do you want to work with the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for hydrological modeling and prediction, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Do you want an employer that invests in sustainable employment and offers safe, favorable working conditions? Welcome to apply for employment as a research assistant 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 research assistant position is part of a seed project at the intersection of AI and geosciences supported by Uppsala University's Institute for the Future (UUniFI). The successful applicant will be employed at the Department of Geosciences but will also work extensively with collaborators at the Department of Information Technology.

Job duties include the application of long short-term memory models, transformer models and potentially other deep learning tools and techniques to improve and characterize flow predictions in watercourses across Sweden. Specific research tasks that can be expected include preprocessing large data sets for analysis, reading and summarizing relevant scientific literature, writing and manipulating code in Python, handling computationally intensive computational processes, preparing and interpreting visualizations of code output, and quantifying the uncertainty associated with predictions. Other important tasks include communication tasks, including coordination with team members and preparation of figures and text for journal articles and grant applications. The successful applicant is also expected to participate in UUniFI meetings for the funded project groups.

Qualification requirements include a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, geoscience, information technology, or a related discipline. Applicants should demonstrate coding skills in Python, with coursework and/or research experience in the use of long short-term memory models, transformer models, and/or related tools. Applicants should also have formal training and/or research in hydrology. Previous research experience, leading to a poster, publication, or dissertation, is a requirement. In addition, applicants are expected to demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills in English and strong interpersonal skills that support collaborative activities.

Desirable qualifications include practical knowledge of best practices in reproducible data analysis, experience in handling and curating large amounts of data, and experience in uncertainty analysis.

About the employment: The employment is for 4.5 months. The scope is full-time/100%. Entry date September 15, 2026 or by agreement. Location: Uppsala.

Information about the position can be obtained from Dr. Laurel Larsen, +46 767027427, laurel.larsen@geo.uu.se.