Research Fellow in Modelling Aviation Climate Impacts

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have a background in atmospheric science? Do you want to further your career in one of the world’s leading climate-research groups? 

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.

You will join a team of climate and atmospheric scientists at the University of Leeds to work on the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Department for Transport (DfT) funded project Modelling Aviation Global climate Impacts from Contrails and Aerosols (MAGICA). You will work with Dr Alex Rap, Professor Dan Marsh, Dr Wuhu Feng, Professor Ben Murray, Professor Piers Forster and Dr Chris Smith to develop the Community Earth System Model (CESM) contrail cirrus scheme, perform climate simulations to quantify the aviation aerosol and contrail cirrus effective radiative forcings, and estimate aviation climate metrics using the Finite amplitude Impulse Response (FaIR) climate model emulator. You will also collaborate closely with the other researchers involved in the project (at Leeds and at University College London), as well as with our project partners: Airbus, Aviation Environment Federation, British Airways, International Air Transport Association, Jet2.com, Met Office, and Rolls-Royce.

MAGICA is a collaborative project involving research groups at the University of Leeds and University College London, funded through the NERC/DfT “Jet zero: Aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate” programme. The overarching aim of MAGICA is to quantify the aviation aerosol-cloud interactions effect and provide robust contrail cirrus effective radiative forcing (ERF) estimates. By assessing these two key aviation ERF terms for current air traffic and fuels, but also for a series of future aviation scenarios, the project will directly guide future aviation technology solutions and policy.

You will have, or be close to obtaining, a PhD in the field of Atmospheric Science (or a closely related field). You will have knowledge of atmospheric and/or climate modelling and evidence of a strong commitment to publishing scientific results at an international level. Experience of modelling aviation climate impacts and developing climate model parameterisations are desirable. 

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 Alex Rap, Associate Professor in Atmospheric Science

Email: a.rap@leeds.ac.uk

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