Senior / Research Associate, AI for Environmental Resilience

The Alan Turing Institute; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

10% employer pension contribution

Hybrid working

Family friendly policies

Job summary

The Alan Turing Institute seeks a Senior Research Associate / Research Associate in London to advance AI enabled environmental forecasting. You will work on weather, climate forecasting and Earth system modelling, collaborating across high‑impact projects with leading researchers and partners to strengthen decision intelligence for governments and industry.

You will bring experience in ML, AI and data science, strong programming skills, and an interest in applying AI to environmental challenges,

Qualifications

• Experience in machine learning, AI, data science or a related quantitative discipline.
• Experience modelling complex physical or spatiotemporal systems.
• Track record of high-quality research; mentoring and shaping research direction advantageous for senior level.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality research projects and lead technical coordination across projects.
• Help shape research direction and technical approaches with PIs and teams.
• Produce and disseminate reports, publications, and case studies; present findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Machine learning

Artificial intelligence

Data science

Programming

Spatiotemporal modelling

Scientific communication

Python

Tools

Python

Job description

Senior Research Associate / Research Associate, AI for Environmental Resilience

The Role

The Environment Forecasting Mission at The Alan Turing Institute, advances AI-enabled forecasting to deliver practical decision intelligence, protecting people and infrastructure from extreme weather, securing the Arctic, and providing operational climate intelligence for global development and adaptation.

We are looking for a talented Research Associate or Senior Research Associate to join our team. The post holder will contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, weather and climate forecasting, helping to develop next-generation AI models that improve environmental prediction and support decision‑making for governments, industry and communities. Working across high‑impact projects, the post holder will collaborate with leading researchers and partners to advance AI capabilities for weather forecasting, climate resilience and Earth system modelling.

About You

You will have experience in machine learning, AI, data science or a related quantitative discipline, alongside strong programming skills and an interest in applying AI to complex environmental challenges. Weare looking for someone with experience in modelling complex physical or spatiotemporal systems, a track record of high‑quality research, and excellent communication skills. For Senior Research Associate applicants, experience leading research activities, mentoring colleagues and shaping research direction will be highly advantageous.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Contribute to the delivery of high-quality research projects, supporting the successful achievement of project objectives, outputs, and impact. Senior Research Associates will typically take greater ownership for leading technical, and coordination across projects.
• Contribute to the development of research direction and technical approaches in collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs) and wider project teams. Senior Research Associates may take a more proactive role in shaping research strategy and identifying opportunities for future work.
• Produce, contribute to, and disseminate high-quality research outputs, including reports, publications, peer‑reviewed papers, presentations, and project case studies. Senior Research Associates will typically lead the drafting and coordination of significant written outputs and publications.
• Communicate research findings and project outcomes to a diverse range of stakeholders through conferences, workshops, events, meetings, media opportunities, and other engagement activities as appropriate.
• Support the development of funding proposals, grant applications, and contractual submissions. Senior Research Associates will typically play a leading role in the preparation and coordination of proposals and may contribute to identifying new funding or partnership opportunities.
• Support and contribute to collaborative team working across projects and disciplines. Senior Research Associates may provide supervision, mentoring, and guidance to junior colleagues and support capability development within the team.

Please see our portal for a full breakdown of the role.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 08 October at 23:59 (London, UK BST)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early or to interview suitable candidates before the closing date if enough applications are received.

Term and Conditions

This full-time post is offered on a permanent basis. The annual salary range is £45,505 - £51,465 for Research Associate level / £57,000 - £58,482 for Senior Research Associate level. Our offers include an excellent benefits package including private medical insurance, 10% employer pension contribution, flexible hybrid working and family friendly policies - full details can be seen here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. We value diversity of background, experience, and perspective, and are proud to be an inclusive employer. We warmly encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from groups currently under‑represented in our sector. If you feel passionate about this role but don’t meet every single requirement, please apply - we recognise that great candidates may bring strengths beyond the criteria listed.