Research jobs in United States

Job Description

Position Details

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to January 2029

Closing date: 5th October 2025

Background

The Project:

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 was the first year that global temperatures reached +1.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels. While a temperature rise of 1.5°C for a single year doesn't mean that we have breached our commitments under the Paris Agreement (as global warming is an average over decades), it is a strong warning signal that we are getting closer. To address this, some countries are considering Solar Radiation Management (SRM) methods to artificially cool the Earth by reflecting more sunlight back into space, buying time for global decarbonisation.

The main SRM methods are: 1) Stratosphere Aerosol Injection (SAI), which creates a protective aerosol layer; 2) Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB), which increases cloud reflectivity over oceans.

While these methods could slowdown warming, their effectiveness and side effects, such as ozone depletion and altered weather patterns, are uncertain.

'Quantifying efficacy and risks of solar radiation management approaches using natural analogues' (QUESTION) aims to study SRM using natural analogues, such as wildfires and volcanic eruptions. These analogues have happened in the recent Earth history and therefore no worrying of side-effects from any new field experiments, and will give us clues what might happen should we attempt to do solar radiation management.

In QUESTION, the University of Birmingham and University of Edinburgh, and the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO, Norway) will work together to will address challenges in separating SRM signals from other factors, improving climate models, and attributing climate responses of SRM.

This research will help assess SRM's risks and benefits, supporting informed climate action.

The Post:

One full-time position (36 months) available for the QUESTION project, with a negotiable start date on 5th Jan. 2026, based in the University of Birmingham UK.

This position will use further develop the novel AI/machine-learning (ML) approach in Chen et al. (2022 & 2024, Nature Geoscience) and apply to stratosphere, in order to investigate SAI's impacts, using natural analogues. You will quantify the influence of SAI on stratospheric chemistry, such as aerosol, ozone, chloride, water vapour, etc.; as well as to understand SAI's highly influential impacts, such as ozone layer depletion, tropics drying, ITCZ shifting, extreme precipitation, etc. Satellite remote sensing will be used in conjunction with meteorological reanalysis, AI and global climate models to understand the efficacy of SAI and its unintended consequence to underpin risk-risk assessment for policymaking.

This post will be supervised by Dr Ying Chen and co-supervised by Dr Mike Cassidy and Prof Roy Harrison in the University of Birmingham, UK. You are also expected to work closely and collegially with teams in Edinburgh (Dr Yu Wang, Dr Andrew Schurer and Prof Gabi Hegerl) and CICERO (Dr Øivind Hodnebrog and Dr Gunnar Myhre).

Role Summary

• Use AI/ML and satellite observations to detect volcanic eruptions and wildfires impact on stratospheric (some cases may include tropospheric) aerosol, water vapour, ozone, chloride, etc
• Estimate of aerosol introduced cooling radiative forcing on surface
• Estimate of the impacts on highly influential consequence, such as ozone depletion, atmosphere circulation, extreme precipitation, ITCZ shift, tropical drying, etc
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Work together with modellers and teams in Edinburgh and CICERO to improve model simulation, and attribution of the impacts of SAI
• Design further AI/ML approach to test hypothesised mechanisms that emerge from the analysis

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop AI/ML approach for detecting SAI impacts from long-term satellite observations
• Analysis long-term satellite observations, detected SAI signals and to understand SAI global impacts
• Archive the data outputs to UK CEDA repository
• Analyse and interpret data from the relevant datasets (e.g. reanalysis, satellite)
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars, etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Develop research objectives for own or joint research, with mentorship from the project and the Programme team
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• PhD (or close to completion) or equivalent experience, in a relevant, quantitative field, e.g. atmospheric or climate science, meteorology, computer science, data-science, physics, mathematics, statistics, environmental science or related fields
• Evidence of a good understanding (or capacity to develop understanding) in relevant field
• Good programming skills in a data processing and visualization language such as Python, MATLAB, R or NCL
• Experience with UNIX/LINUX and High Performance Computer
• Publication record appropriate to experience
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research project
• Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
• Willing to work flexibly to achieve project demands

What we can offer you:

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
• Our support for high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
• A multitude of staff benefits, flexible and family friendly working culture, details here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/jobs/staff-benefits;
• A beautiful campus set in the vibrant Birmingham, with exceptional convenient and diverse choices of commute.

How to apply:

Please upload your CV, cover letter, and a Personal Statement detailing your motivation and how your experience meets the requirements. Please combine your CV, Cover Letter, referee contacts and other statements (if applicable) into a single .pdf file and upload it to the application system.

Informal enquiries to Dr Ying Chen, email: y.chen.21@bham.ac.uk

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.