Three post-doctoral research positions in ocean and ice sheet modelling:
Ice/Ocean Modeller, Ice Damage Modeller, Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist
Contract Type: Full Time
Duration: Fixed-term – 3 years or 4 years, depending on role
Start Date Flexible
Salary £41,344 - £45,479 – the band minimum is the normal starting pay for those new to a role. In exceptional circumstances, when relevant skills and experience can be identified, a higher starting salary may be considered.
Benefits We offer a range of generous benefits (see below)
Teams Polar Oceans team and Ice Dynamics team
Location BAS Cambridge
Interview Dates 7th/8th May
We will give full consideration to requests for flexible and part time working, such as reduced hours, compressed hours or job sharing. We also offer hybrid working and recognise the many benefits this brings. The nature of the role will determine if flexible and hybrid working options are possible.
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for three ocean and ice sheet modellers to join our Polar Oceans and Ice Dynamics teams. These posts are part of the GReenland ice sheet to Atlantic tipping points from Ice-sheet Loss (GRAIL) project, which forms part of the ARIA-funded Forecasting Tipping Points programme. GRAIL is a large international collaboration across 14 institutions, led by BAS, that is dedicated to observing and modelling the melting and calving of glaciers in Greenland fjords.
At BAS, you’ll join an interdisciplinary team of oceanographers and glaciologists working closely together to improve our understanding of the evolving ice and ocean dynamics in Greenland and Antarctica. You’ll help us to deliver exciting and impactful scientific research on one of the biggest questions facing society: how much and how fast will ice sheets melt, influencing North Atlantic climate and causing global sea-level rise?
For the Ice/Ocean Modeller role, we are looking for someone to run high-resolution simulations of the fjords adjacent to Greenland glaciers, with the aim of understanding the ocean processes controlling ice melting. This work will form part of a close collaboration with turbulence experts at the University of Cambridge, fjord modellers at the University of St. Andrews, and ocean observationalists from across the GRAIL project.
For the Ice Damage Modeller role, we want someone to run high-resolution simulations of ice fracture and damage in Greenland tidewater glaciers. These simulations will then be used alongside emulation techniques to develop parameterisations of ice damage for use in full simulations of glacier response to ocean forcing. The fracture model will be constrained by new Greenland observations collected by the GRAIL team.
For the Ice Modeller/Emulation Scientist role, we are looking for someone to run ice-sheet simulations of key Greenland glaciers and examine their response to perturbations from melting and calving at the glacier face. They will then use AI frameworks to create statistical emulators of glacier and fjord models, which will be used to examine the potential for tipping points in Greenland glaciers. This research is one of the main goals of the GRAIL project and the postholder will collaborate with GRAIL scientists across BAS (Ice Dynamics, Polar Oceans, AI Lab and Digital Innovation Team) and externally (e.g. University of Leeds).
If these roles appeal to you we’d love to hear from you, whatever your background. These roles are available immediately, but our top priority is to recruit the best candidates and we would consider any start date. Informal enquiries about the posts are very welcome and should be addressed to Paul Holland (pahol@bas.ac.uk) and/or Rosie Williams (chll1@bas.ac.uk) and/or Robert Arthern (rart@bas.ac.uk).
Please see the job description related to each role for more details. Candidates are very welcome to apply for one, two, or all three of these roles. Please ensure you upload an application for every role you wish to be considered for. Apply now at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.
Benefits
In our ice/ocean collaborative team we support the individual needs of our colleagues within a wider culture that is friendly, respectful, open and honest. We want the postholders to have freedom to pursue this science in the direction they think best, though we will of course offer full training in the technical aspects and guidance on the research questions.
As a valued member of our team, you’ll be eligible for the following benefits:
- 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
- Excellent civil service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution)
- Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure, and lifestyle categories and much more.
You’ll be joining a world-leading interdisciplinary research organisation that is committed to recruiting talented people like you and giving you the support you need to thrive. Within these roles, there will be opportunities to develop your scientific career in collaboration with scientists across BAS and beyond. We offer significant support and guidance in applying for funding, including a tailored mentorship scheme for fellowship applications. Training is available on in-house models and techniques where required, and more broadly on skills for career development such as grant writing and scientific leadership.
Working at BAS is rewarding. Our skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability, BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure, help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. BAS is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (www.ukri.org).
If you require the job information in an alternative format (i.e. email, audio or video), or would like any further information or support, please do not hesitate to get in touch at jobs@bas.ac.uk or alternatively you can call us on 01223 221508.