Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist

British Antarctic Survey; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Cambridge is looking for two modellers to enhance understanding of ice and ocean dynamics related to climate change. This role involves research on Greenland glaciers and their effects on global sea level rise. Candidates should have relevant experience, and both full-time and part-time options are available. The position offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits including generous leave and pension.

Benefits

30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Excellent civil service pension

Flexible working opportunities

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted shopping access

Qualifications

• Strong background in oceanography or glaciology.
• Experience with ice/ocean modelling techniques.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to interlinked projects within PROMOTE and GIANT.
• Collaborate with partners to deliver scientific research on ice-ocean interactions.

Job description

Overview

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for two ocean and ice sheet modellers to join our Polar Oceans and Ice Dynamics teams. These posts are part of two interlinked projects within the ARIA-funded Forecasting Tipping Points programme. The Ice/Ocean Modeller will join the PROMOTE project (Progressing Earth System Modelling for Tipping Point Early Warning Systems), a collaboration across 7 UK institutions using the UK Earth System Model (UKESM) to study tipping points in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre and Greenland Ice Sheet. The Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist will join GIANT (Greenland Ice sheet to AtlaNtic Tipping points from ice loss), a large international collaboration across 14 institutions that is dedicated to observing and modelling the melting and calving of glaciers in Greenland fjords.

At BAS, you\'ll join an interdisciplinary team of oceanographers and glaciologists working closely together to improve our understanding of the evolving ice and ocean dynamics in Greenland and Antarctica. You\'ll help us to deliver exciting and impactful scientific research on one of the biggest questions facing society: how much and how fast will ice sheets melt, influencing North Atlantic climate and causing global sea-level rise?

Positions

• Greenland Ice/Ocean Modeller: advance UKESM\'s representation of Greenland meltwater release to the ocean, and use the improved model to assess the risk of Greenland triggering a collapse of convection in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre. This post will work with PROMOTE partners and the broader UKESM team, including at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the Met Office. The research will directly improve climate predictions using the UK climate model.
• Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist: run ice-sheet simulations of key Greenland glaciers and examine their response to perturbations from melting and calving at the glacier face. Use AI frameworks to create statistical emulators of glacier and fjord models, to examine the potential for tipping points in Greenland glaciers. Collaborate with GIANT scientists across BAS (Ice Dynamics, Polar Oceans, AI Lab and Digital Innovation Team) and externally (e.g. University of Leeds).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to interlinked projects within PROMOTE and GIANT, with focus on ocean-ice sheet modelling and interpretation of results for Greenland and surrounding regions.
• Collaborate with partners across BAS and external institutions to deliver scientific research that informs understanding of ice-ocean interaction and tipping points.
• Harness machine learning/AI approaches to develop emulators or enhance modelling frameworks as appropriate to the role.
• Engage in dissemination and training, including collaboration with UKESM and broader modelling communities.

Key details

• Contract Type: Full Time – flexible and part-time working considered
• Duration: Fixed-term – 2 years (Greenland Ice/Ocean Modeller) or 3 years (Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist)
• Start Date: Flexible
• Salary: £41,344 – £45,479 per year; the band minimum is the normal starting pay for those new to a role. In exceptional circumstances, a higher starting salary may be considered.
• Location: BAS Cambridge
• Closing Date: 8 October
• Interview Dates: 22-23 October

Benefits

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
• Excellent civil service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution)
• Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure, and lifestyle categories

Informal enquiries about the posts are welcome and should be addressed to Kaitlin Naughten ([e-mail]) and/or Rosie Williams ([e-mail]). Candidates are encouraged to apply to both roles and upload an application for each role. Apply at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.

If you require the job information in an alternative format or would like any further information or support, please contact [e-mail] or call 01223 221508.