"Research Assistant/Associate x 2 (Fixed Term)"

We seek a Postdoctoral Research Assistant / Associate (PDRA) to join a multidisciplinary project "Re-Thickening Arctic Sea Ice (RASi)" funded by the UK Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA): see https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/future-proofing-our-climate-and-weather/exploring-climate-cooling/.

The successful candidate will work closely with multiple PIs across the University of Cambridge, the University of Manchester, University College London, the University of Washington, as well as with industrial partners and other PhD students and PDRAs in the project.

The objective of the project is to explore the potential and hazards of polar (Arctic) climate intervention. Such interventions might be required to keep the climate system from "tipping" in response to Arctic sea ice decline. Scientific knowledge gaps, lack of sufficient observations, and lack of integration of such interventions in Earth System Models all keep us from assessing the potential and hazards of such interventions. The goal of this project is to help provide the facts so that societal decisions based on cost-benefit analyses can be made informed.

This specific PDRA will focus on fundamental fluid dynamical processes in the Arctic Ocean with a focus on upper ocean dynamics and ocean-ice coupling. The project will involve idealised modelling as well as Earth System Modelling within the scope of models developed through https://canari.ac.uk/. The PDRA will also have the opportunity to work closely with the CANARI consortium. The goal of the project will be to study the phenomenology of the processes that set the density stratification in the Arctic Ocean and investigate how stratification has been changing (and will change) in a changing climate. The impacts of changes to sea ice thickness (natural, anthropogenic, and due to intervention) on stratification, seasonality of sea ice, and climatic feedbacks (e.g. such as on ocean circulation) will be explored.

Applicants must have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computing, Earth or Ocean Sciences, or a relevant field. The candidate must be comfortable working routinely in modern programming languages (e.g. Python, Julia) and using standard software development and collaboration platforms (e.g. GitHub). Experience in one or more of the following areas is also required: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Physical Oceanography, Climate Science, and Computational Modelling. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, have a strong publication record (commensurate with their career stage) and good communication skills.

Training for specific tasks can be provided, and the candidate will be mentored and supported in developing their career and research interests.

Start date: As soon as possible and ideally before 01 October 2025.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Salary ranges: Research Associate: £37,174 - £46,049 (Grade 7). Appointment at the Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be under-appointed as a Research Assistant (Grade 5, Point 38 - £34,610), moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of their PhD award.

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Further information on the role can be found in the Further Particulars document.

Please contact Ali Mashayek (am3158@cam.ac.uk) to discuss further details if you are interested in applying for this position.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter and publications list in the upload section. If you upload any additional documents that have not been requested, they will not be considered as part of your application.

Please quote reference LB47015 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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