Careers
Whenever there are any new positions available at the ICOS or related communities we will announce it on this page.
If you have information about related open vacancies, please email ICOS Communications at icos-comms (at) icos-ri.eu
Open positions in the ICOS field
Doctoral researcher (atmospheric chemistry laboratories), Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland (deadline 23rd March 2026)
The Air Quality Group within the Atmospheric Composition Research Unit is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated doctoral researcher to study atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their emissions.
The research conducted by the selected candidate will enhance our understanding of volatile organic compounds released into the atmosphere from vegetation and human activities, and their impacts on atmospheric processes. The researcher will work in close collaboration with other members of the Atmospheric Composition Research Unit, especially within the Air Quality Group. The position is part of the Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence “Anthropocenic Chemical Ecology of Forests (ACE-Forest)”, which investigates interactions between forests and the atmosphere, with a particular focus on plant-emitted VOCs, their ecological interactions, and their impacts on atmospheric chemistry and climate.
The researcher’s duties include, among others, field measurements (e.g. at Pallas and Hyytiälä), chemical analysis of air samples using chromatographic methods, data analysis, and publication of scientific articles.
Expectations:
• A Master’s degree (or close to completion) in a relevant field (e.g. chemistry, physics, environmental sciences)
• Willingness to participate in field measurements in national and international campaigns
• Willingness to work in an international research environment, including meetings and research visits abroad
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a research team
• Good written and spoken English skills
Considered an advantage
• Understanding of atmospheric chemistry and atmosphere–biosphere interactions
• Experience with chromatographic methods
• Experience with VOC measurements
• A valid driving licence
• Data processing and programming skills
Deadline for applications is 23rd March 2026, 14:00 EET.
Research Scientist - Plankton Biodiversity, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom (deadline 24th March 2026)
National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is the UK’s leading institution for integrated coastal and deep ocean research. Through ground-breaking research, collaboration, and game-changing innovation NOC works to gain a deeper understanding of our ocean, helping every living thing on our planet flourish.
You will be joining a dynamic and diverse research team investigating phytoplankton biodiversity and ecological dynamics from the coast to the deep open ocean. You will contribute to a range of funded projects including the global Bio-GO-SHIP biodiversity monitoring programme, investigations of (sub)mesoscale physical-biological interactions (DANCE), and the development of local-scale ecological monitoring for mCDR.
You will undertake research on automated phytoplankton imaging and cytometry, quantification and identification. This role will involve preparing and going to sea to deploy a range of plankton imaging systems, such as the Imaging Flow CytoBot (IFCB) and PlanktoScope, as well as lab-based analyses using FlowCam, flow cytometers and other relevant systems. You will develop and maintain workflows for data quality control, image processing and analysis, and annotation libraries.
You will be a key member of a team working on a wide range of projects in close collaboration with physical oceanographers, biogeochemists, molecular ecologists, engineers and data scientists.
Deadline for applications is 24th March 2026.
Postdoc on partitioning forest CO2 and water vapor fluxes (3 yrs), ETH Zurich, Switzerland (deadline 1st April 2026)
This position is embedded in a joint project between ETH Zurich, WSL (Dr. Roman Zweifel) and CzechGlobe on Innovative technologies cross scales to disentangle carbon dioxide and evapotranspiration fluxes of forests (INETFLUX). We aim to develop and validate new approaches to partition net ecosystem CO2 fluxes and evapotranspiration into their individual components—gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration as well as transpiration and evaporation—and to identify the environmental drivers that regulate these processes. We will use machine learning approaches (XGBoost, SHAP analyses) for the flux partitioning, complemented by existing tree dendrometer and sap flow measurements as well as stable isotopes in tree rings. Forest sites are located in Switzerland and Czech Republic.
Your main tasks will include:
- Development of knowledge-guided machine learning approaches to partition existing forest flux data sets across Europe
- Identification of flux drivers and their temporal development to understand responses of forests to climate and extreme events
- Compilation of tree dendrometer and sap flow data as additional constraints for flux partitioning
- Responsibility for one eddy-covariance flux station within the Swiss FluxNet
- Presentation of the results and publications
- 3-months stage at CzechGlobe, and
- Assistance in knowledge exchange and capacity building within the project, including workshops, training visits and co-supervision of doctoral students
The position is funded for up to three years. Salary and social benefits are provided according to ETH Zurich rules.
Deadline for applications is 1st April 2026.
Atmospheric scientist (postdoc, 2+2 years) position methane satellite research, Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON), the Netherlands (deadline 1st March 2026)
We are looking for an ambitious, highly motivated, and result driven (postdoctoral) scientist with experience in interpreting atmospheric (satellite) observations.
SRON is the space research expert institute in the Netherlands, developing and using Earth observation satellite instruments for climate and air quality research. SRON is the (co-) Principal Investigator institute for a.o. the Dutch satellite instruments TROPOMI, SPEX-One, and TANGO.
You will be working on our TWOS (Targeting Waste emissions Observed from Space) project together with GHGSat and the Global Methane Hub. In this project, we measure methane emissions using GHGSat observations from 10+ waste sites in the Global South in support of local mitigation activities. We also evaluate urban and national-scale emissions using TROPOMI observations with inverse modeling to provide context for these site-level estimates. The project also involves supporting active engagement with NGOs and local partners. Your work will fit in and complement our on-going research on methane (super-emitters) as part of LOW-Methane, UNEP’s IMEO-MARS, World Bank, and CAMS projects.
Requirements
We are looking for an ambitious, highly motivated, and result driven scientist with a PhD in atmospheric sciences or a similar degree, with experience in the interpretation of atmospheric (e.g. satellite, aircraft etc.) observations. Strong programming and data analytics skills are also expected. Experience with research on atmospheric methane, transport modelling and/or flux inversions is considered an asset. A highly developed proficiency in written and oral English is essential and the candidate should be capable of working both independently and in a team.
The position we offer is full-time for a period of two years with the possibility of a two-year extension.
Due date for first selection of applications is March 1st 2026, after which the position remains open until filled