Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist

Band: D S2

Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment: 3 years

Location: Cambridge

Team: Ice Dynamics

Interview Date: 7th/8th May

Purpose

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking to recruit an Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist to join our Polar Oceans and Ice Dynamics team. This role is one of three ice and ocean modelling posts that we are currently recruiting for as part of the GReenland ice sheet to Atlantic tipping points from Ice-sheet Loss (GRAIL) project. GRAIL is a large international collaboration across 14 institutions, led by BAS, that is dedicated to observing and modelling the melting and calving of glaciers in Greenland fjords.

For the Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist, we are looking for a post-doctoral physical scientist in the field of ice sheet/glacier modelling to simulate Greenland glaciers and create emulators of the full glacier models. In particular, the postholder will set up the WAVI ice sheet model to examine the response of key Greenland glaciers to perturbations from melting and calving at the glacier face. They will then develop existing machine learning frameworks to create statistical emulators of glacier and fjord models that can cheaply represent the full model results, enabling assessments of potential future tipping points. The postholder will collaborate with the wider team from the GReenland ice sheet to Atlantic tipping points from Ice-sheet Loss (GRAIL) project, who will provide both observational data and fjord model results and will incorporate the emulators into a prototype Early Warning System for rapid glacier change.

The role is based within a collaborative grouping of ice and ocean scientists in the Polar Oceans and Ice Dynamics teams at BAS, which includes ice sheet and ocean modellers as well as observational and field scientists. Assessing the future contribution of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to sea-level rise and North Atlantic climate is the core research goal of this grouping. Support and training will be provided to get the successful candidate up to speed with the modelling specifics. There will also be plenty of scope to tailor the project to the candidate’s interests, within the remit of the broader GRAIL project.

If this role appeals to you, we’d love to hear from you, whatever your background. The role is available immediately, but our top priority is to recruit the best candidate, and we would consider any start date. Informal enquiries about this post are very welcome and should be addressed to Rosie Williams (chll1@bas.ac.uk).

Follow the link to see the full specifics about the role and to apply!

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Set up and run Greenland glacier simulations using the WAVI ice sheet model and observational data from the GRAIL project and elsewhere.
• Investigate the response of Greenland glaciers to changes triggered at the terminus.
• Create cheap statistical emulators of the glacier models and the results of fjord models produced elsewhere in GRAIL.
• Collaborate with other GRAIL scientists on the use of fjord model results and the incorporation of the emulators into a prototype Early Warning System.
• Publish papers in the scientific literature and present at international scientific conferences.

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