Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

This NERC funded full-time post is available from 1 Nov 2026 till 30 April 2029.

The starting salary will be from £34,610 on Grade E for the Postdoctoral Research Associate level and from £43,482 on Grade F for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow level, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to participate in the NERC funded project: Next-generation modelling of future hazards in dynamic foreland rivers. This project will develop and apply new approaches to predicting and understanding hydro-geomorphic hazards that occur during floods, and their societal impacts on floodplain populations downstream of the Himalayan mountain front in India. The successful applicant will work as part of a team of UK and international scientists to quantify flood-driven hazards in these rivers. The post will involve analysis of remote sensing datasets, application and testing of numerical models of river dynamics and associated hazards, and involvement in fieldwork and stakeholder engagement in India.

About You
This is one of two posts associated with this project, hence applicants are not required to possess experience in all areas listed below.

Postdoctoral Research Associate: The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will have relevant experience and be able to contribute to research activities in some of the following areas: remote sensing analysis using GIS or equivalent tools (e.g., Google Earth Engine); hydrogeomorphological data analysis, application and evaluation of numerical models of riverine processes or hazards; quantitative research methods used in demographic social sciences, economics, or related fields, and the design and implementation of social surveys. Knowledge of riverine processes and hazards (including flooding) in Himalayan rivers and their societal impacts would be beneficial.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in riverine environments or natural hazard impacts and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. Applicants will have relevant experience and skills, and be able to contribute to and lead research activities in several of the following areas: remote sensing analysis using GIS or equivalent tools (e.g., Google Earth Engine); hydrogeomorphological data analysis, application and evaluation of numerical models of riverine processes or hazards; quantitative research methods used in demographic social sciences, economics, or related fields, and the design and implementation of social surveys. Knowledge of riverine processes and hazards (including flooding) in Himalayan rivers and their societal impacts would be beneficial.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification (available on the university's website, accessed by the 'Apply' button) for full details of this role.

Further information:
Please contact Professor Andrew Nicholas, a.p.nicholas@exeter.ac.uk.

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