"Senior Research Fellow/Postdoctoral Research Fellow"

Job description

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

Two full time posts are available from 1 August 2024 on a fixed term basis for up to 3 years and 10 months.

Summary of the role

The Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy wishes to recruit two Postdoctoral Research/Senior Research Fellows in physical oceanography to work on the high-impact project COSSMoSS (Capturing Oceanic Submesoscales, Stirring, and Mixing with Sound and Simulations). These UK Research and Innovation funded posts are available from 1 August 2024 for up to three years and 10 months.

To address uncertainties in predicting our future climate and marine biosphere, we need to better understand how the oceans flow deep below the surface layers – in particular currents that span scales of tens of metres to tens of kilometers, otherwise known as submesoscale currents. These flows matter because they provide a pathway to harness energy from the winds and tides, using it to stir and mix different water masses around the globe, along with the properties that they carry. However, subsurface submesoscale currents remain elusive: due their intermediate size and intermittent nature they are profoundly under-sampled by observations and poorly represented in models. One global hotspot of submesoscale ocean activity is thought to be the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence located off the coast of Argentina. Here sub-tropical waters from the Atlantic collide with polar waters from the Southern Ocean. Water mass exchanges at this confluence, which are likely driven by submesoscale currents, play a key role in the distribution of heat, salt, carbon and life sustaining nutrients and oxygen throughout the global oceans.

We are seeking two Postdoctoral Research/Senior Research Fellows to join an international team seeking to improve our understanding of submesoscale currents at key oceanographic junctures like the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence. You will help to co-create and conduct a pioneering experiment that will capture, for the first time, the full range of current flows that exist beneath the surface ocean layers, alongside the mixing and stirring that they generate. A targeted sea-going programme using active acoustics (seismic oceanography) will sample the oceanic structure of the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence at unprecedented resolutions (i.e. of order tens of meters both laterally and vertically throughout the water column). Similar to how bats echo-locate, a ship at the surface releases sound pulses into the water and records reflections from temperature and/or salinity changes. Acoustic measurements will be combined for the first time with cutting-edge robotics, drifters, floats, vessel-mounted and moored instrumentation. In parallel, state-of-the-art model simulations will be developed that are validated and improved through data assimilation, using the new ocean observations. You will use both the observational and model data to quantify submesoscale initiation, ubiquity and interactions, and assess the impact on ocean energy budgets, vertical mixing, water mass transformations and property distributions. By revealing and simulating interior ocean dynamics in unparalleled detail, COSSMoSS will shed light on a significant missing piece of the scientific ocean puzzle helping us to better understand our future biosphere and climate.

One position will be focussed on observational data collection and analysis, and the other on building and running simulations. However, both aspects are highly synergistic with the ultimate aim to novelly assimilate the observational data into model runs, and generate high impact dynamical insights. Both posts will involve helping with the preparation of ocean-going fieldwork: this may include the design of seismic sampling equipment and mooring instrumentation, and the development of high-resolution models to guide sampling strategies. You will have the opportunity to participate in the research voyage and learn to operate and pilot autonomous underwater instrumentation (e.g. Autosub Long Range 6000).  There is an opportunity to be hosted with project partners Prof James McWilliams at the University of California, Los Angeles (up to a year for the more-modelling focussed position), for knowledge exchange and networking. Funding is available for training, professional development and international conference/project meeting attendance. Specifically, training and mentorship will be available for setting up and running state-of-the-art ocean simulations, data assimilation, understanding submesoscale dynamics, and the processing and analysis of seismic and other ocean data.

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will be expected to:

• develop research objectives, projects and proposals
• lead and contribute to high-quality peer-reviewed publications and present at conferences and other events.
• work collaboratively, supervise the work of others, share knowledge and act as team leader as required
• identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds
• contribute to the activities of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science and the highly active marine research groups at the University of Exeter (e.g. Exeter Marine)
• possibly supervise MSc and PhD students in a related field, or assist in undergraduate teaching activities in Marine Science

As a senior research fellow, in addition to the above, you may be expected to:

• contribute to the development of research strategies
• participate in the overall management of the College in areas such as strategic planning, budget management and business planning
• plan and deliver research, consultancy or similar programmes
• actively seek and secure research funding
• act as a line manager

About you

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally (if applying as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow) or an internationally (if applying as a Senior Research Fellow) recognised authority in oceanography, ocean modelling, or a closely related field, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies.

You will be able to show proficiency in handling large datasets, coding (e.g. experience of Matlab or Python), and demonstrate strong quantitative skills.  Experience of one or more of the following is required: interior ocean dynamics, ocean turbulence, isopycnal stirring, fluid dynamics, running and interpreting ocean models, data assimilation, processing ocean field measurements, working with seismic or acoustic data. In addition, experience of ocean bio-physical interactions, evidence of working at sea, paper writing, presentation of results, and good communication will be considered advantageous.

We are looking for someone who is highly motivated, creative, independent and with the ambition to learn new skills and knowledge. You will work with a highly supportive team, which alongside the University of Exeter, UK and the University of California, Los Angeles, US spans collaborators in: Université de Bretagne Occidentale, France; Fudan University, China; University of Southampton/National Oceanography Centre Southampton, UK; and the University of Durham, UK. As such, you will actively engage with the wider team and be open to sharing knowledge with others. While not essential, we would encourage you to be able to participate in a one-month research cruise scheduled for January 2025 and disembarking from South America, to collect observations and deploy equipment.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr. Katy Sheen, e-mail k.l.sheen@exeter.ac.uk or telephone (01326) 255532.

Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning the 8 July 2024.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.