Post-Doctoral Research Assistant in Land Surface Modelling Post

The PDRA in Land Surface Modelling will work on the LEMONTREE (Land Ecosystem Models based On New Theory, observations and Experiments) project (worth $10.9 million in funding to the University of Reading and running from January 2021 – September 2026). The PDRA will be responsible for integrating new model components developed by the LEMONTREE project into the JULES (UK Community) land-surface scheme in collaboration with project scientists at the University of Reading, Imperial College London and the Met Office. They will also be responsible for developing a modular implementation scheme that can be used with other land-surface models, as well as evaluating and optimising the performance of the new components in JULES. The postholder will be expected to spend at least 30% of their time at the Met Office in Exeter as well as interacting with other members of the LEMONTREE team in Reading and Imperial.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in climate science or closely related discipline by the start date of the appointment.
• Broad understanding of climate and land-surface modelling, and the principles of the terrestrial carbon cycle and carbon-water coupling.
• Excellent programming skills, specifically Fortran and Python.
• Practical experience in using big data sets for model evaluation.
• Familiarity with statistical approaches used for model evaluation, including geostatistics and timeseries analyses.
• Previous research experience and publication record.
• The ability to use own initiative and plan, manage and prioritise workload effectively to meet varied and strict project delivery deadlines.

Closing date: 31/05/2024
Interview date: w/c 10/06/2024, with the expectation that the appointment will start as soon as possible thereafter.

Informal Contact Details
Contact role: Supervisor
Contact name: Sandy P. Harrison
Contact phone: +44 (0)118 378 5258
Contact email: s.p.harrison@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Informal Contact Details
Contact role: Scientific Supervisor
Contact name: Martin Best
Contact phone: not applicable
Contact email: martin.best@metoffice.gov.uk

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants should ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement under the PBS. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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