Research Fellow in stratospheric climate modelling of solar radiation modification

University of Leeds; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK research-intensive university seeks a researcher with a PhD in Physics or Climate Science for a 24-month fixed-term contract. The role involves simulating aerosol injection impacts using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model. Successful candidates will contribute to research transparency, communicate findings openly, and work within an international team. Benefits include extensive holiday, pension schemes, and personal development opportunities. Flexible working arrangements can be discussed.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays

Generous pension scheme options

Health and Wellbeing discounts

Access to personal development courses

Qualifications

• Extensive experience using and analysing data from climate models.
• Prior experience with WACCM or similar model is a strong advantage.
• Experience communicating science to policymakers is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Simulate distribution of radiatively active aerosol tracers injected into the stratosphere.
• Set up, run, and analyze simulations for radiative and climate effects.
• Contribute to project report writing and dissemination of results.

Skills

Climate modelling

Data analysis from climate models

Communication with policy makers

Education

PhD in Physics or Atmospheric, Ocean or Climate Science

Tools

WACCM or similar climate models

Job description

Role Overview

Are you a researcher looking for your first challenge? Do you have a background in climate research or numerical modelling? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK's leading research-intensive universities?

The project will develop state of the art climate tools to accurately predict the dispersal and climate impact of proposed hypothetical stratospheric aerosol injection strategies. You will be working as part of an international interdisciplinary team to reduce some of the fundamental climate modelling uncertainties around solar radiation modification (SRM). This is a 24-month fixed term contract.

Responsibilities

This role will entail simulating the distribution of radiatively active aerosol tracers injected into the stratosphere within the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). Working with Prof Dan Marsh, you will set up, run and analyse a variety of simulations to simulate the radiative and climate effects of aerosol injection. You will be part of a project team to design, implement and analyse data from a series of sensitivity experiments. With Prof. Piers Forster, you will estimate the effective radiative forcing from injecting stratospheric aerosols. Liaising with a wider international team, you will contribute to project report writing and dissemination of scientific results at conferences and in peer‑reviewed literature.

It is clear that SRM is a controversial subject, and our desire is to be as transparent as possible, as no such confidentiality agreements will need to be signed, and all the work conducted under this project will be communicated openly, entering the public domain through peer‑reviewed publications.

Qualifications

You will have a PhD (or have submitted your thesis before taking up the role) in the field of Physics or Atmospheric, Ocean or Climate Science, or Computing and have extensive experience of using and analysing data from climate models. Prior experience with the WACCM or similar model will be a strong advantage.

Experience communicating your science to policy makers is desirable.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

• 26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - That's 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state‑of‑the‑art campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on‑site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
• And much more!