Postdoctoral Research Associate
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
This new full time post is available from 1 February 2025 on a fixed term basis unto 9 May 2026.
The post
The faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate of approximately 16 months duration to work on modelling deliberate climate intervention to cool the planet and counterbalance the impacts of global warming. This fully-funded post is available from 1st February 2025 until 9th May 2026 (start date negotiable), with the strong possibility of extension until 31st January 2027 (i.e. 24months total), subject to approval.
The UK has committed to Jet Zero by decarbonising aviation by 2050. Despite aviation’s non-CO2 effects having the potential for warming more than aviation CO2, they have received little attention and there are large gaps in understanding and modelling their impacts.Assessments of contrail and contrail cirrus (CC) suggest they exert 50% more warming than aviation CO2, but the confidence level is ‘low’ and constitute a very large uncertainty of aviation impacts on climate.
The successful candidate will perform atmosphere-only Unified Model (UM) simulations with high resolution (~30 km) for 2001-2022, focusing on the North Atlantic. Observed sea surface temperature will be prescribed, and simulations will be nudged to ECMWF reanalyses (also ~30 km resolution).Predictors will be developed using machine learning (ML) to represent the occurrence of aviation cirrus from satellite observations and their sensitivities to meteorology and aviation emissions. Embedding the satellite-observations within the UM framework, will enable verifiable 4D assessments of the ML-predictor algorithms and allow development of potential re-routing options.
Comparison between the climate impacts of the short-lived aviation cirrus and long-lived CO2, will be via using the double-call facility of the SOCRATES radiative transfer code (with/without aviation cirrus) and utilising the IPCC standard empirical relationship for CO2.
The successful applicants will be expected to work closely with colleagues at the University of Exeter, and with colleagues at the Met Office Hadley Centre. They will be expected to produce peer-reviewed papers documenting the results.
About you
The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.
Applicants will possess or be nearing completion of a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.Applicants will be expected to learn how to perform analysis of climate model and/or satellite derived climate data and will preferably have an appreciation of the role of clouds on the energy budget of the atmosphere.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
- Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
- An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
- Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
- A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
- A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.
Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.More than 99 percent
of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world.We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Further information
For further information please contact Prof Jim Haywood, e-mail j.m.haywood@exeter.ac.uk or Dr Cyril Morcrete, email c.morcrette@exeter.ac.uk.
Interviews are expected to take place in early December 2024.
This role may be subject to additional background screening.