Research Scientist (ACACIA & POWER-Kenya)

We are seeking a motivated research scientist to work across two projects to advance our understanding of sub-seasonal drivers of predictability and how they can be used to co-develop reliable, actionable tools that inform Disaster Risk Reduction (ACACIA*) and Renewable Energy (POWER-Kenya*) decision-making in Africa.

This is a three-year fixed term post.

The main duties of the role are to

• Carry out research to advance our understanding of the relationships between large-scale modes of tropical variability (e.g., MJO, IOD, ENSO, equatorial waves) and how they modulate local African weather (e.g. precipitation, wind, tropical cyclogenesis, flooding) in observations.
• Evaluate the representation of these relationships in the ECMWF sub-seasonal forecasting system.
• Contribute to the development of methods to post-process ECMWF sub-seasonal forecasts to improve their usefulness in decision-making.
• Contribute to regular interactions with African partners to understand how and if current forecast products are currently used and could be improved to support decision-making.
• Report on research results in the scientific literature and at relevant workshops and conferences.

The post holder will be based in the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading. The Department of Meteorology is world-renowned for its pioneering research on weather, climate and earth observations with 100% of our research graded as world-leading or internationally excellent in REF2021. NCAS is a NERC research centre distributed across UK Universities. At Reading it includes world-leading expertise on climate variability and change and has a strong track record of delivering impactful international projects.

*ACACIA (Anticipatory Climate Adaptation for Communities in Africa) is a large EU-funded project made up of an ambitious interdisciplinary alliance to enhance the resilience of at-risk communities in Sub-Saharan Africa to climate impacts. Focusing on floods in the Greater Horn of Africa and floods and tropical cyclones in Madagascar, it seeks to improve the ways climate services are produced, disseminated and used for making short-term and long-term decisions to diminish climate risk.

*POWER (Potential of sub-seasonal for Operational Weather and climate information for building Energy Resilience) – Kenya is a UKRI STFC-funded project which seeks to bridge the gap between Kenya's increasing dependence on weather-sensitive renewable energy and the lack of reliable weather and climate information to support energy planning by i) advancing understanding of sub-seasonal predictability of weather-sensitive demand and renewables; and ii) build climate-energy research capacity in Kenya to co-create risk-informed tools for energy decision-making.

You will have:

• A PhD (or PhD near completion) in a numerate discipline or equivalent professional experience 
• Strong scientific programming skills, including experience managing and analysing large geophysical or environmental datasets
• Knowledge of weather and climate science
• Excellent communication skills

Closing date: 30/04/2025
Interviews will be held: 12/05/205

Contact details for advert
Contact Name: Linda Hirons
Contact Job Title: Senior Research Scientist
Contact Email address: l.c.hirons@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Steve Woolnough
Alternative Contact Job Title: Professor of Climate Science
Alternative Contact Email address: s.j.woolnough@reading.ac.uk

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

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