Scientist FED-tWIN program

Mitigating climate change is high on the agenda in Belgium, at the European level and globally. After signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, Belgium committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To monitor progress in emission reductions, regular Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of emissions, including the five-yearly inventory, is mandatory.

Current reporting of the national GHG emission inventory for Belgium is based on bottom-up calculations, using statistical information on economic activity in various sectors and measured emission factors. It has been shown that this reporting can be improved by adding additional information derived from a top-down approach that combines atmospheric observations with inverse modelling.

The objective of this research profile is therefore the development and implementation of such a national top-down Monitoring and Verification System (MVS) for greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium.

The MVS aims to (1) quantify greenhouse gas concentrations over Belgium at subregional scale, (2) identify and quantify the main sources and sinks of GHGs, (3) distinguish between anthropogenic and biogenic sources and sinks, (4) monitor the evolution of atmospheric GHG burdens over Belgium and evaluate the impact of reduction strategies, and (5) provide guidance on sectors or point sources with high potential for greenhouse gas reductions. This research will also enable assessment of the feedback between the GHG budget and climate change.

This research program aims for a multidisciplinary approach with atmospheric and ecosystem research to address the challenges of a Belgian MRV for GHG emissions., * You provide high-quality teaching on topics related to climate change.

• Your teaching role will evolve with the degree programs. You teach a limited number of course components, including parts of the Bachelor program Biology, the master programs Global Change Biology, Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development, or Energy and Climate.
• You play a role in the development of activating, student-centered and competency-based course components and programs.
• You supervise students and their bachelor's and master's theses.

Research

• You initiate and coordinate high-quality scientific research within the research profile described above.
• You participate in ongoing research programs at both host institutions, in particular the ICOS project, and develop an international scientific network.
• You publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• You help coordinate project proposals within the research profile described above and attract external funding.

Service

• You contribute to academic service and service to society, both internally and externally.

Organisation and leadership

• Your leadership style is motivating and coaching. You support the growth and development of your team members.

Position as postdoctoral researcher at the University of Antwerp

• You assist in ongoing research projects, in particular the ICOS project.
• You help coordinate relevant project proposals and contribute to attracting external funding.
• You assist in supervising PhD students and other team members.
• You support academic service activities: representing the research group internally and externally, supporting coordination of service projects, etc.

Position at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)

• You assist in ongoing research projects, in particular the ICOS-BE and VERBE projects.
• You help coordinate relevant project proposals and contribute to attracting external funding.
• You assist in the supervision of PhD students and other team members.
• You participate in scientific service activities: representing the scientific research group internally and externally, supporting coordination of service projects, etc.

• You hold a PhD in sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics…) or applied sciences (e.g. engineering physics, bio-engineering…).
• You obtained your PhD no more than 12 years before the deadline for application submissions. This 12-year period is extended by one year for every absence due to maternity, parental or adoption leave, as well as long-term illness of the candidate or of a first-degree family member.
• Your research qualities match those of the host institutions.
• You have an excellent research portfolio with peer-reviewed publications in Earth, atmospheric or ecosystem sciences.
• You must demonstrate at least 5 years of research activity in one of the above scientific (sub)disciplines.
• You have good knowledge of global Earth observation systems, including remote sensing and/or in-situ instruments for ground-based GHG observations.
• You have expertise or are willing to develop skills in inverse modelling using in-situ or remote-sensing Earth observation data to estimate greenhouse gas fluxes.
• You have very good command of programming languages: thorough knowledge of Python, and working knowledge of Fortran, C and MATLAB, in UNIX and Windows environments.
• Your teaching competencies align with the educational vision of the University of Antwerp. You are motivated to further develop your teaching skills through available professionalisation opportunities.
• You have experience working in national or international projects, taking responsibility for work packages/tasks, including some project management tasks.
• If you do not speak Dutch, you are willing to learn Dutch to CEFR level B2. Once you take on teaching duties as (co-)instructor, you must demonstrate CEFR level C1 proficiency in the language of instruction. We support international staff with an integration program and appropriate language support in accordance with Flanders' statutory language regulations.
• You demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and collaboration.

The University of Antwerp offers:

• A part-time appointment of 10% as a member of the Independent Academic Staff for a period of three years. After a positive evaluation, the appointment may be extended.
• The ZAP rank (lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor or full professor) will be determined based on your professional experience and academic qualifications. Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scales for Senior Academic Staff (ZAP) and calculated proportionally on the basis of your employment percentage.
• A part-time 40% permanent contract as postdoctoral researcher.
• Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scale for a principal research fellow in the Contract Research Staff category (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP) and calculated pro rata based on the employment
• You will work mainly at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating work environment.
• You receive eco-vouchers, internet-connectivity compensation and a bicycle allowance or full reimbursement of commuting with public transport.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

BIRA-IASB offers:

• A 50% appointment as Team Leader (class SW2) with a permanent contract.
• Salary according to federal regulations for scientific contractual SW2 personnel.
• Dynamic work environment with international contacts.
• Reimbursement of travel costs when using public transport or a bicycle.
• Access to benefits for employees of the federal scientific institutions (e.g. collective hospitalisation insurance, training opportunities, regular teleworking options).
• A green working environment.

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, future-oriented European university. We offer innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct groundbreaking scientific research and play an important service role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6,000 employees from 100 different countries, we work together every day to build the world of tomorrow. Through top-level scientific research we push boundaries and set course for the future - a future you can help shape. The Global Change Ecology (GCE) consortium is one of the knowledge centres at the University of Antwerp, which aims, among other things, to connect innovative fundamental research on environmental issues with societal solutions. The Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) is a scientific institution under the umbrella of the Federal Science Policy in Uccle (Brussels). Its main mission is the development of scientific and technological expertise in the field of aeronomy. One of its research domains is the study of sources and sinks of atmospheric constituents. For this research, the Institute uses spectrometric observations from the ground and from space, as well as specific numerical models. The atmospheric constituents on which BIRA-IASB focuses include long-lived climate-polluting substances or greenhouse gases; for their observations, the Institute uses infrared remote sensing from space and from the ground, as well as in-situ observations at or near the surface. The development of inverse models for greenhouse gases is planned from 2024 onwards. For more information about the institute, its activities and the projects in which it is involved, see the BIRA-IASB website. The Faculty of Science of the University of Antwerp and the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) have the following full-time (100%) vacancy. The supervisors of this research profile are both partners in the European research infrastructure ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System). UAntwerp - GCE focuses on the functioning of Belgian terrestrial ecosystems and leads the ecosystem component of ICOS, and BIRA-IASB contributes to the atmospheric component of ICOS and TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network). To support the activities of the ongoing FED-tWIN research program: "A Belgian greenhouse gas emissions Monitoring and Verification System" (BE-MVS), we are looking for a Scientist (M/F/X) This position is part of the FED-tWIN funding program of the federal government, specifically the FED-tWIN research profile Prf-2022-039 BE-MVS. Since you will carry out the FED-tWIN BE-MVS research profile at both UAntwerp (50%) and the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) (50%), appointments will be made at both institutions: 1. Part-time (10%) appointment as Independent Academic Staff (ZAP) and a part-time (40%) appointment as postdoctoral researcher (BAP) at the University of Antwerp, Faculty of Science. 2. Part-time (50%) appointment as postdoctoral researcher at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB). FED-tWIN is a federal research program of the Federal Public Service Science Policy (BELSPO) aimed at stimulating sustainable cooperation between ten federal scientific institutions and Belgian universities by funding joint research profiles.