Research Fellow in Orographic Convection

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.

Are you an ambitious researcher with a passion for the weather? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, conducting fundamental research with real world applications?

TEAMx (Multi-scale transport and exchange processes in the atmosphere over mountains– programme and experiment) is an international research programme including a field campaign in the Alps during winter / summer 2025. This project will form part of the UK contribution to TEAMx, funded by the National Environmental Research Council (NERC). This project, joint with the British Antarctic Survey, is focussed on:

• Advancing our understanding of the key physical processes controlling the initiation of orographic convection and the links with sub-grid orography. 
• Evaluating the capabilities of the Met Office model to accurate represent moisture transport through mountainous regions at a range of scales.
• Improving the parametrisation of convection and related processes in the Met Office model over orography to deliver more accurate rainfall predictions.

The project will primarily be analysing observational and model data from the TEAMx field campaign, but there will be the opportunity to contribute to the summer field campaign in July 2025. The project is one of 4 funded as part of the UK contribution to TEAMx and so you will be collaborating with other researchers in the programme, as well as with international partners in TEAMx.

Based in the Institute of Climate and Atmospheric Science in the School of Earth and Environment you will join a large dynamic research community with internationally recognised expertise in atmospheric dynamics and convection. As one of the founder members of the Met Office Academic Partnership, Leeds has a long-standing and close collaboration with the Met Office and the post-holder will work closely with them to ensure pull-through of the research to operations.

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: 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!

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

Dr. Andrew Ross

Email: a.n.ross@leeds.ac.uk

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