Research Fellow in Modelling Forest-Climate Interactions

This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Do you have a strong background in climate, terrestrial or atmospheric modelling? Do you have a proven track record developing international research collaborations? We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed researcher to identify how tropical forests can contribute to climate change adaptation.

Finding solutions to climate change is urgent and essential for the future of humanity. Tropical forests have the potential to contribute to climate change adaptation, but there are crucial knowledge gaps on how intact and regenerating forests interact with climate and how well these processes are represented in global climate models. Existing models struggle to capture the complexity of tropical forest-climate interactions, limiting our ability to reliably predict the climate impacts of future land-use change, including tropical reforestation scenarios. 

This role is an exciting opportunity to transform our understanding of tropical forests in the climate system and deliver science that will directly impact international land-use policy. You will develop a pantropical research network and co-develop methods with key stakeholders to produce the first quantification of how tropical forests can contribute to climate change adaptation. You will synthesise the latest high-resolution satellite datasets to identify the local and regional climate co-benefits of intact and recovering tropical forests. You will conduct a detailed evaluation of forest-climate interactions in the UK Earth System Model (UKESM) and deliver updated regional climate projections based on the improved UKESM and bespoke land-use scenarios. 

You will have (or be close to obtaining) a relevant PhD and have expertise in an area of Climate or Environmental Science. You will have experience of collaborating with a wide range of tropical forest stakeholders and demonstrate commitment to publication of original results at an international level. Working within a vibrant and internationally recognised research team, the project offers generous opportunities to travel and work alongside international experts in the field, to participate in international climate change conferences, to receive highly specialised training to grow your technical research skills, and will provide an excellent springboard for a thriving research career.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

If you are looking for a role that will tackle urgent global challenges and elevate your profile as an international researcher apply today.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Jess Baker

Email: j.c.baker@leeds.ac.uk 

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