Postdoctoral Research Fellow/ Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Associate of three year duration to work on modelling deliberate climate intervention to cool the planet and counterbalance the impacts of global warming. This post is fully funded by Quadrature Climate Foundation and available from 2^nd January 2025 (negotiable) until 1^st January 2028, with the possibility of extension (subject to approval)

The climate crisis means that the targets set by COP21 may soon be exceeded leading to increasingly damaging climate impacts. While stringent mitigation methods are obviously essential, greenhouse gas concentrations and the associated global warming and climate change are projected to continue to increase under all future scenarios exposing the Earth to increasingly damaging extreme events and potential tipping points. You will be expected to work on modelling the impacts of solar radiation modification (SRM) to provide an objective assessment of their feasibility.

You will work on High-Resolution Modelling of Marine Cloud Brightening and Marine Sky Brightening. Studies have shown that injection of sea-salt aerosol into the marine boundary layer can brighten clouds (marine cloud brightening, MCB), but also can have a significant impact via the direct reflection of sunlight (marine sky brightening, MSB). This project will model the impacts of MCB and MSB over limited areas such as the Mediterranean or the Caribbean to examine potential impacts on wildfires or hurricanes respectively. High resolution models will be used to examine both the impacts of deployment and the climate response. Candidates should have strong experience in climate modelling preferably with the UKESM1 climate model, and demonstratable expertise in the climatic impacts of aerosols.

You will be expected to work closely with colleagues at the University of Exeter, but also with colleagues at the Met Office Hadley Centre. You will be expected to produce peer-reviewed papers documenting the results.   

About you

At Grade F: Applicants will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in maths, physics, computer-science, meteorology, or a related numerate scientific discipline. They will be a nationally recognised authority in atmospheric sciences and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. You will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to perform analysis of climate model/aerosol-cloud process model/machine learning as appropriate to the positions noted above, and will have an appreciation of the role of aerosols in climate change.

At Grade E: Applicants will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess or be nearing completion of a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be expected to learn to perform analysis of climate model/aerosol-cloud process model/machine learning as appropriate to the positions noted above, and will have an appreciation of the role of aerosols in climate change.

For further information please contact Prof Jim Haywood, j.m.haywood@exeter.ac.uk.

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