Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow

This new full time post is available from 1 April 2025 on a fixed term basis until 31 March 2028.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow to participate in European Space Agency (ESA) and EU Horizon (NextGenCarbon) projects, contributing cutting-edge research on the terrestrial carbon cycle. This joint ESA and EU Horizon funded post is available 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028. The successful applicant will integrate Earth Observation (EO) data and the JULES land carbon model, to accurately quantify carbon stocks and fluxes across global ecosystems. This research supports international carbon monitoring efforts, including the Global Carbon Budget, and informs EU and global climate policies. The candidate will contribute to the development of novel data assimilation techniques (e.g. 4DEnVar; Pinnington et al. 2020; Gaussian Process History Matching; McNeall et al. 2024) for better parameter estimation of JULES. A particular focus will be placed on constraining disturbance losses (e.g. fire mortality) and ecosystem recovery.

About you

For PDRF: The successful applicant 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 a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in applying data assimilation techniques to constrain carbon cycle models and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to run carbon cycle model and analyse the output, be comfortable with a variety of data assimilation techniques, and have high-level mathematical and analytical skills.

For PDRA: The successful applicant 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 a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) 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.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further information

For further information please contact Mike O’Sullivan e-mail m.osullivan@exeter.ac.uk.

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