Research Associate in Atmospheric Dynamics

About the role

Applications are invited for a Research Associate to study how the lower and middle atmosphere (i.e. the troposphere, stratosphere and lower mesosphere) drive and control the dynamics of the Earth's upper mesosphere, lower thermosphere, and ionosphere (MLTI), a critical boundary region linking the atmosphere below and space above. This role will primarily focus on the role of atmospheric gravity waves in this driving. 

The MLTI is by far the least-understood part of the atmospheric system, and our knowledge of how it varies over time and space is very limited. You will support the NERC-funded DRIIVE and MesoS2D projects aimed at understanding this complex atmospheric region. Both projects are multi-institution programmes combining novel observations and innovative atmospheric models to characterise and understand the MLTI system.

You will use NASA and ESA satellites, supported by ground-based instruments and reanalysis output, to measure the effects of small-scale atmospheric ('gravity') waves. In examining these measurements, you will identify the signatures of phenomena such as local and regional weather, the output of the sun, El Nino and the Madden-Julian Oscillation. You will compare effects to simulations run using the WACCM weather model, and to ionospheric data from the state-of-the-art EISCAT-3D radar. The ultimate goal of both projects to drive a step-change in our knowledge of and ability to predict the MLTI, and you will play a key role in delivering this goal.

This post is offered on a fixed term basis with an expected end date of 10th April 2026. 

For an informal discussion please contact Prof Corwin Wright at cw785@bath.ac.uk. Please ensure your application is submitted through our website.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in a relevant subject area
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• The ability to write research reports and disseminate outcomes
• Proficiency in Matlab, Python, Fortran or IDL

Experience with the science of atmospheric waves, such as spectral analysis, atmospheric ray-tracing, or the theory of this area would be a bonus.

Further information

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

You will join a thriving atmospheric dynamics research group led by Prof Wright, and work with colleagues studying topics as diverse as the triggering of dramatic sudden stratospheric warming events, ways to improve the accuracy of state-of-the-art weather models, and identifying techniques to better predict extreme hurricanes and typhoons. You will have the opportunity to contribute to these projects and others as well as your core work on MesoS2D and DRIIVE. 

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