Research Assistant in High Mountain Environments

Salary: Grade 6 (£32,296 – £37,999 p.a. depending on experience) 

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 experienced in GIS and working with geospatial data? Are you interested in undertaking fieldwork to help reduce disaster risk in Nepal? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research-intensive Universities?

We are looking for a Research Assistant in High Mountain Environments to complete an important role in a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project (4+3 years): Glacial Lake Observatory for Flood Hazards Impacted by Changing Climate (GLO-FHICC) awarded to Dr C. Scott Watson (PI). As glaciers disappear, thousands of glacial lakes are forming. Yet their location in high-altitude and logistically challenging environments means observations are sparse, including essential measurements of water storage and potential hazard. This project will investigate lake development processes and glacier-related flood hazards to enhance disaster preparedness and increase water security across High-Mountain Asia. The project will integrate satellite data, numerical modelling, and fieldwork to provide the foundations for systematic and open access glacial lake monitoring.

You will collect field data in Nepal and the UK, which will underpin analysis of flood hazard and high-altitude glacial lakes. You will also work to collate and analyse a range of geospatial datasets through literature review and satellite data analysis, and then integrate these data into an interactive online platform, which will be developed by a team of specialist software engineers at the University of Leeds. 

Please note that due to Home Office visa requirements, this role may only be suitable for first-time Skilled Worker visa applicants if they are eligible 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.

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 options plus life assurance

•    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!  

If you are looking for a role that will contribute to an exciting and impactful project whilst developing skills for a career in academia or industry, apply today.

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

Dr C Scott Watson

Email: c.s.watson@leeds.ac.uk 

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