Research Associate: Representing Methane in Global Chemistry-Climate Models (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: Funding is initially for 12 months but is anticipated to be available for the duration of the project

Applications are invited for a PDRA funded through the Schmidt Science Foundation Virtual Earth System Research Institute (VESRI) to join the Fate Emissions Transport and Chemistry (FETCH4) team and deliver a step-change in our understanding of methane in the atmosphere.

Fate, Emissions, and Transport of CH4 (FETCH4; fetch4.github.io) is an international collaboration of scientists from 19 institutions across 7 countries that is co-led by the University of Washington and the University of Rochester. The project is supported by Schmidt Future's Virtual Earth Research Institute (VESRI). The central focus of the project is to improve our understanding of the methane cycle and better represent the important methane-feedback mechanism in climate models. To achieve this the FETCH4 team will make new isotopologue measurements in both Greenland ice cores and air samples from 11 stations around the world. These isotopogolgue measurements provide unique chemical fingerprints that will allow the team to isolate the role of individual aspects of the methane cycle such as fossil fuel emissions. These new measurements will be used in combination with satellite observations to estimate individual sources of atmospheric methane as well as the chemical sink of methane. In tandem, the team will develop modelling capability to simulate these isotopologues in global climate models and then accelerate the climate models with machine learning. These computationally efficient models will be used to help interpret the isotopologue measurements and improve the representation of the important methane feedback mechanism in global climate models.

Applicants must have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in a physical or computational science or at least three years of relevant research experience; desirable areas include atmospheric science, computational mathematics, computer science, and physics. Experience with the Unified Model or atmospheric modelling is highly desirable but not essential. Experience with simulating climate or chemistry across the Quaternary is desirable but not essential. Experience interpreting large model datasets or observational datasets using software such as Python, R, or Matlab is essential. Expertise in stratospheric or tropospheric chemistry or aerosol modelling is desirable. Proficiency in Fortran and experience running computer code on high performance computers is desirable.

Anticipated start date for the successful candidate is November 2024. Interviews are likely to be early October.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47917

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter and publications list in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents that have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

For queries regarding applying online for this post, please contact Alex Campbell (email: a.archibald.group.admin@ch.cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference MA42930 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The Department holds an Athena SWAN silver award for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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