Doctoral student in oceanography

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in oceanography

The Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, (https://www.gu.se/en/marina-vetenskaper) combines extensive scientific competence with unique infrastructure to provide the most complete environment for marine science and education in Sweden. It is one of only a few such organisations in Europe. By integrating advanced research infrastructure with a strong link to societal needs and challenges, the Department contributes with new solutions to global ocean challenges.

The Department of Marine Sciences conducts research, education, and innovation related to the science of the ocean and its resources. Its activities are based in Gothenburg, at two research stations (Kristineberg Center for Marine Research and Innovation, and Tjärnö Marine Laboratory), and on the research vessel Skagerak. The Department has an interdisciplinary scope that encompasses marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology, preservation of marine cultural heritage, and oceanography, working in all marine habitats from shallow bays and coastal seas to the open oceans. Our scientists and students often play leading roles in international collaborative research, including expeditions to Polar regions and the great seas of the world, as well as in our newly built laboratories with advanced equipment and complex analytical techniques. The Department also offers a wide range of undergraduate courses, a Bachelor’s degree, three Master’s degrees, and a Ph. D. programme, all within marine sciences.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages.

https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

Subject area description

Investigating fine-scale ocean and atmosphere dynamics in the Southern Ocean and quantifying their impact on air-sea heat and CO₂ exchange using existing and new observational datasets.

The global climate is regulated by the air-sea exchange of heat and CO₂. However, the high-frequency processes that govern these exchanges and their connection to upper ocean physics is one of the primary sources of uncertainty in future climate prediction. These uncertainties are particularly prevalent in the poorly observed and understood Southern Ocean, where most of the heat and CO₂ uptake occurs. In this region, the scarcity of observations that encompass the upper ocean and air-sea interface, and the uncertainty of the correct scales to measure them, means we know remarkably little about the interaction of the processes occurring between the millimetre to 100s of kilometre scale and their links to the larger climate system and its change.

We are offering a PhD position in physical oceanography to address knowledge gaps related to the air-sea heat and CO₂ exchange dynamics in the Southern Ocean, focusing on the role of high-frequency storm forcing and fine-scale ocean circulation. The PhD candidate will use a combination of existing field data, primarily from multi-year Southern Ocean mooring observations, and new observations from planned expeditions in 2026 and 2027 to contribute to the Swedish Research Council project of Dr Marcel du Plessis (https://www.gu.se/en/research/how-understanding-storms-reduces-southern-ocean-heat-and-co2-uptake-uncertainty) and the Wallenberg Academy Fellowship of Professor Sebastiaan Swart. Auxiliary reanalysis data and satellite-based products, including recently attained SWOT and PACE satellite data, are available to be used. These results may also be linked to the longer-term ventilation of heat and carbon beyond the base of the mixed layer.

There will also be an expectation to contribute to upcoming field campaigns to the Southern Ocean and the Agulhas Cape Basin and learn how ocean different autonomous robotic platforms function and are piloted, such as Seagliders, Sailbuoys, and Wave Gliders.

The PhD supervisory team will consist of Dr Marcel du Plessis and Professor Sebastiaan Swart. The doctoral student will be embedded within the Polar Gliders Research Group, working together with other students, Postdocs, and researchers in similar fields across various research projects. There will also likely be mobility and collaboration with other institutions around the world and nationally within Sweden.

Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree. The education should include courses of at least 60 higher education credits, distributed over the study period and planned together with the supervisor and the examiner.

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20% of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels but may also include outreach and administration. The employment is extended by the corresponding time.

Duties 

As a doctoral student within the Polar Gliders Research Group at the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, the candidate will be expected to fulfil responsibilities that include:

Scientific

• Produce a doctoral thesis, including peer-reviewed publications on the research topic.
• Analyse ocean and atmospheric data from an array of measurement platforms such as moorings, ships, and autonomous robotics to describe the dominant processes driving their variability.
• Investigate air-sea exchange processes, their interactions with fine-scale ocean dynamics, and their impacts on climate.
• Work closely with different analysis techniques, such as direct covariance and air-sea flux algorithms, including contributing to their development.
• Show independence, initiative and critical thinking.

Technical

• Participate in international research cruises that may be of weeks to months duration in remote regions, for example Southern Ocean and Subtropical South Atlantic, and assist in deploying and piloting key instrumentation.
• Quality control and process ocean and atmospheric data for various sensors and platforms.

Community and outreach

• Present findings at appropriate scientific conferences.
• Participate and contribute to the activities of the oceanography subject and colleagues at the Department of Marine Sciences.
• Expected skills sharing between candidate and research group, and vice versa.
• Communication of science and results through outreach activities is encouraged.

Eligibility 

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:

1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must:

• have a master’s degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences,
• have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or
• have completed a corresponding programme of relevance to the planned third-cycle programme, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

*Relevant subject for the planned third-cycle education is oceanography, meteorology, or a closely related field.

Assessment criteria 

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies.

We are looking for a highly motivated and independent person with education in/knowledge of oceanography. The person should be interested in extending and enhancing current observational capabilities in the Polar Gliders Research Group.

The following are considered essential:

• Background in physical oceanography and/or meteorology.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communications skills in English.
• Experience with scientific programming skills in Python or similar is essential.
• Willingness to work in a team, to communicate with peers, and an ambition to learn new skills.

The following is considered advantageous:

• Demonstrate strong analytical skills and a good ability to handle large data.
• Show a willingness and/or experience of going to sea to participate in international research cruises.

Admission and employment 

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.

The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.

Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.

A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.

Type of employment: Fixed term employment, 4 years.
Extent: Full time, 100%.
Location: Until further notice at the Department of Marine Sciences, Gothenburg.
First day of employment: Upon agreement, approximately January 2026

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at the Department of Marine Sciences require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the department has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

Contact information

If you have any questions about the position, please contact:

Dr Marcel du Plessis – marcelduplessis.github.io – Researcher, marcel.du.plessis@gu.se

Professor Sebastiaan Swart – www.sebswart.com – Professor, sebastiaan.swart@gu.se

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact:

Sofie Emanuelsson – Human resources officer, sofie.emanuelsson@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

The application should contain:

• A degree certificate or similar
• A CV (maximum 2 pages)
• A statement of interest outlining your ambitions for the outlined position with relevance to the position descriptions (1 page)

All documents in the application should be submitted in English.

Applications must be received by: 2025-07-18

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.