Research Fellow

The University of Warwick’s Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics (CFSA) is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow for a five-year research programme focused on modelling Earth’s magnetosphere and radiation belts.

The successful candidate will develop and apply magnetospheric, ring current, and radiation belt simulations, investigating the dynamics and coupling of these regions during geomagnetic activity. The role offers an exciting opportunity to work at the interface of space plasma physics, computational modelling, and space-weather science, within a collaborative research environment.

This is part of a five-year multi-institution STFC-funded project entitled: why is the response of Earth’s outer radiation belt to solar wind driving so hard to predict? involving close collaboration with Northumbria University and University of Birmingham.

In addition to conducting original research, there will be opportunity to contribute to the mentoring and supervision of PhD students within the research group as well as research grant development and capture.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here).

We welcome applicants with experience in either space physics, plasma physics, numerical modelling, or scientific computing. Experience with applying these to magnetospheric or radiation-belts, or similar areas, would be particularly valuable.

If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£35,302 per annum). Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£36,320 per annum).

The Centre for Fusion Space and Astrophysics is an interdisciplinary centre  embracing plasma physics applied to the grand challenges of magnetic and inertial confined fusion power, space plasma physics, solar physics, and

astrophysics. The research spans fundamental theory, observation, and the analysis of experimental data, combined with high performance computing.

CFSA is an established leader in plasma physics modelling, with several productions codes with global user bases, such as EPOCH and LARE. Associated space weather research spans the solar corona, heliosphere, magnetosphere, radiation belts and ionosphere as well as downstream space weather risks and impacts. Wider collaborations exist with University of Warwick’s exoplanet research group who lead the ESA Plato mission, and with Warwick Quantum to  develop novel sensing solutions for space.

Space physics and space weather research within CFSA is supported by a diverse range of academic, government and industry stakeholders, including UKRI, UK and European Space Agencies, the Met Office, QinetiQ, EDF, AWE and Dstl. The successful candidate will have opportunities to engage with such partners through meetings, workshops and collaborative research activities, gaining valuable experience in translating fundamental research into applications with real-world impact.