Research Fellow in Modelled Forest-Climate Interactions

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.

Interviews are expected on 19th June 2026, and alternative dates are unlikely due to panel availability. Successful candidates will be asked to give a 5-minute presentation on their research experience and suitability for the role.

Do you have a strong background in climate or atmospheric modelling? Do you have a proven track record developing international research collaborations? We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed researcher to identify how tropical forests can contribute to climate change adaptation.

Finding solutions to climate change is urgent and essential for the future of humanity. Tropical forests have the potential to contribute to climate change adaptation, but there are crucial knowledge gaps on how intact and regenerating forests interact with climate and how well these processes are represented in global climate models. Existing models struggle to capture the complexity of tropical forest-climate interactions, limiting our ability to reliably predict the climate impacts of future land-use change, including tropical reforestation scenarios.

This role is an exciting opportunity to transform our understanding of tropical forests in the climate system and deliver science that will directly impact international land-use policy. You will build a pan-tropical research network and co-develop methods with project partners to develop the UK Earth System Model (UKESM). You will apply process-based evaluation tools to global and regional convection-permitting simulations to produce the first detailed evaluation of forest-climate interactions. You will deliver updated regional climate projections based on the improved UKESM and bespoke land-use scenarios. Your work will directly inform international policies on how future land use can support climate resilience.

You will have (or be close to obtaining) a relevant PhD and have expertise in an area of Climate or Environmental Science. You will have experience of collaborating with a wide range of tropical forest stakeholders and demonstrate commitment to publication of original results at an international level. Working within a vibrant and internationally recognised research team, the project offers generous opportunities to travel and work alongside international experts in the field, to participate in international climate change conferences, to receive highly-specialised training to grow your technical research skills and will provide an excellent springboard for a thriving research career.

Visa Eligibility

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: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent.

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

Dr Jess Baker, Associate Professor

Email: J.C.Baker@leeds.ac.uk (Please include the reference 'CRAFTPDRA' in the subject line)

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