Research Fellow in Atmospheric Convection and Scale Interactions

This role will be based primarily on the University of Leeds campus. There is scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

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

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have a background in atmospheric science, or the physics/mathematics needed to model the weather and climate? Do you want to apply your skills to understanding the benefits of the next generation of convection-permitting models for weather and climate? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities? 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work with the Met Office on a project to assess and understand the “upscale” benefits of explicitly modelling atmospheric moist convection on large domains and to evaluate global, pan-tropical and regional convection-permitting simulations.

The representation of atmospheric moist convection in global models is a major challenge in weather and climate prediction. This has led to high-profile calls internationally for much greater use of convection-permitting simulations over large domains. Despite the computational cost, numerous studies have shown how these models can transform our ability to model key physical processes in the climate system, including scale interactions from km to continental scales, and interactions between the atmosphere and underlying land surface system. You will analyse data from new cutting-edge convection-permitting simulations provided by the Met Office to gain physical understanding of the role of convection in weather and climate and so inform future modelling strategies. The analysis performed in the project will be used to inform related research developing AI-based models for weather and climate prediction. You will join the strong atmospheric dynamics group at Leeds, with a long track record of using convection-permitting models to understand processes and scale interactions. 

Supervised by Professor John Marsham, Dr Juliane Schwendike and Professor Doug Parker, you will also interact closely with members of the project team at the University of Reading and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, as well with scientists at the Met Office. Although the funding is currently for one year, we expect funding to be extended annually to form a 3-year project. 

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, the University’s state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by NCAS and the University’s 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 provide opportunities for cutting-edge research with real-world importance, working with a world-leading national meteorological office, apply today.

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

Professor John Marsham 

Email: J.Marsham@leeds.ac.uk

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