Research Associate in Climate Analysis and Modelling

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: 24 months

Research Associate in Climate Analysis and Modelling - University of Edinburgh Careers

This Research Associate position will contribute to the BResilient project (Bamboo as a vital ingredient in reforestation strategies to promote resilient and sustainable communities and enterprises in Madagascar). The project is led by the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment at the University of Edinburgh, and in collaboration with colleagues at the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, ESSA, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar and Liverpool John Moores University.

The researcher will perform an analysis of available climate observations, including reanalysis data, to build a comprehensive characterisation of regional climate, including the occurrence of extremes (e.g., tropical cyclones) and their impact of regional resources (e.g., forests). By performing an analysis of future climate model projections, they will determine how the climate will evolve, and whether the frequency and severity of extreme events change with time. They will also estimate uncertainties, and the extent to which changes are anthropogenically driven as opposed to being part of natural fluctuations. The researcher will also make use of remote sensing data (e.g., vegetation and land-surface properties) to better constrain model-simulated climate. Use of machine learning methods (e.g., to improve model-based estimates or to provide further mechanistic insights into future climate projections) is strongly encouraged.

A full list of main responsibilities and the knowledge, skills and experience required for the role can be found in the full job description below. If you require any further information or wish to have an informal conversation about the role, please reach out to Thomas Reynolds (T.Reynolds@ed.ac.uk) and Massimo Bollasina (Massimo.Bollasina@ed.ac.uk).

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• Solid experience in the analysis of climate model data and observations (in situ, reanalysis, satellite-derived)
• Enthusiasm for climate research and independence to come-up with own ideas
• Willingness to develop and maintain international research collaborations with partners in academia and the humanitarian sector
• Track record of publishing results in international peer-reviewed journals
• Skills in machine learning and statistical analysis methods

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