Research Associate or Assistant in Simulating Stratospheric Plumes

Location: South Kensington campus

About the role:

Applications are invited for a fully funded fixed-term position at the Research Assistant/Associate (PostDoc) level in simulating stratospheric plumes.

Emissions plumes from high-altitude sources (e.g. aircraft) can persist for weeks or even months in the stratosphere, but most global atmospheric models are unable to preserve such fine structure over long periods. This calls into question the accuracy of simulations aimed at understanding the effects of aviation, launch vehicles, stratospheric convective injections, or – potentially - stratospheric geoengineering. We seek to develop a novel representation of stratospheric plumes which allows them to be accurately represented at global scales, and thereby inform efforts to understand potential risks and efficacy of stratospheric aerosol injection.

What you would be doing:

You will work with a multi-institution team to develop an efficient, accurate model of stratospheric plume behaviour. You will collaborate with a team at the University of Cambridge who will provide initial and boundary conditions for the plume’s development, as well as reduced-order representations of the early plume dynamics. You will then develop a global simulator which allows us to assess how plumes would travel and grow, from the initial emission through to their eventual diffusion or sedimentation into the troposphere. Using this simulator you would evaluate the efficacy and impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection. You will interact with teams at Cambridge and Harvard who will be performing balloon flights to understand the properties of stratospheric aerosols, and who will need the data you provide to optimise their work.

What we are looking for:

• Research Associate: PhD in aerospace engineering, atmospheric science, or physics, or a closely related discipline*
• Research Assistant: A first/masters degree (or equivalent) in aerospace engineering, atmospheric science, physics, or a closely related discipline
• Expertise in stratospheric dynamics and/or chemistry
• Enthusiasm for coding of complex atmospheric models
• Create problem-solving skills and ability to work independently

*Candidates with a PhD in other disciplines may be eligible if they can demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills and deep expertise computational model development. Candidates who have not yet acquired their PhD would be appointed at the Research Assistant level.

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to advance our understanding of, and ability to mitigate, climate change
• The opportunity to interact with experts from Imperial, Cambridge, and the US in both engineering and atmospheric science
• Access to a state-of-the-art, high performance computing cluster
• You would work as part of a dynamic team working to enable truly sustainable aviation at the Brahmal Vasudevan Institute for Sustainable Aviation
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: Gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

Further Information

We are hoping that the successful candidate will start her/his contract immediately, or as soon as possible. The successful candidate will be supervised in the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London.

If you require any further details on the role please contact:
Dr. Sebastian Eastham: s.eastham@imperial.ac.uk.                         

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