Research Fellow in Cloud Modelling

This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you an ambitious atmospheric modeller ready to improve the representation of ice nucleation in weather and climate models? Do you have experience developing and running large numerical models and analysing complex datasets? Would you like to work with a world-leading team at Leeds to connect molecular-scale insight to cloud-scale prediction?

You will join the project “From Toy to Cloud Modelling: Leveraging Molecular Simulations to Improve Atmospheric Models of Ice Nucleation” (NERC APP25329). The project is developing physically motivated statistical “toy models” of heterogeneous ice nucleation and using them to improve parameterisations of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) in weather and climate models. Your focus will be the Leeds-based cloud-modelling work package: implementing new INP parameterisations derived from the toy models into a regional, cloud-resolving configuration of the Met Office Unified Model (UM) using the Cloud Aerosol Interacting MicroPhysics (CASIM) scheme, and quantifying the impacts on cloud microphysics, radiation and precipitation across a set of well-observed case studies (e.g. mixed-phase clouds at high latitudes and deep convection in marine and continental environments). You will work closely with colleagues at Leeds and Warwick (who are developing and validating the toy/atomistic models) to translate physically informed INP spectra into robust, computationally efficient parameterisations suitable for operational-scale modelling. The role provides an outstanding opportunity to develop expertise across aerosol–cloud interactions, model development and high-performance computing, while producing publishable research and contributing to knowledge exchange with the wider modelling community. 

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Thomas Whale

Email: T.F.Whale@leeds.ac.uk

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