Post Doctoral Research Associate - North Atlantic Jet Stream Under Climate Change

This post is fixed-term for 25-28 months and full-time at 1 FTE.

The Department of Geography is rapidly developing its research profile in the areas of meteorology and climate science. This includes a new NERC-funded 28-month project on “Understanding the drivers and implications of a more variable North Atlantic jet stream under climate change (JetVar)”, led by Edward Hanna, Professor of Climate Science and Meteorology. The project will involve a novel evaluation of North Atlantic jet-stream changes in large numbers of state-of-the-science global climate model simulations that have recently been produced by key inter/national projects, using the latest observation-based climate datasets. In addition, we will also use innovative machine learning tools to evaluate the relationship between a set of hypothesised climatic precursor conditions, called (potential) jet-stream drivers, and jet-stream variability. We will then develop a set of constraints, based on relations between global climate model representation of the observed jet stream and model-projected future climate change, with the goal of developing unique and robust predictions of changes in North Atlantic jet-stream variability to the year 2100. Furthermore, we will provide critical guidance for end-users and stakeholders to help prepare for climate-related impacts of likely future variations in the jet stream.

JetVar involves close collaboration with Co-Investigators and Partners at the Universities of Reading, Sheffield and Newcastle, the Met Office, Environment Agency, National Energy System Operator and the Wildlife Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Post Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) with experience of statistical analysis and/or modelling, computer programming and preferably some meteorology/climate background, to join our growing team. You will work directly on the NERC project to help push back the frontiers of knowledge and understanding in the topical and high-impact area of the North Atlantic jet stream under climate change. We expect the project to begin on 1 December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

You will have recently finished or be finishing a PhD or PDRA position and have a desire to work in the Department of Geography/Climate Research Group.

For enquiries or an informal conversation about the post, please contact Prof. Edward Hanna at ehanna@lincoln.ac.uk.

Further details are available in the Job Description and Person Specification.