Research Assistant/ Associate in Climate

Salary:

Research Assistant:  £32,296 to £33,882 per annum

Research Associate: £34,866 to £40,247 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date:  02 February 2025

The Role

We are seeking a Researcher to work on the ‘Role of natural climate variability in modulating climate projections’ project in the Climate+ Co-Centre. The Climate+ Co-Centre is a new initiative to address water challenges on the Islands of Ireland and Great Britain. Led by Trinity College, Dublin; Queens University Belfast, University of Reading; UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Newcastle University, it is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The Climate+ Co-Centre brings together over 60 leading researchers from 14 academic partner institutions in the UK over a six-year period. It will undertake research, providing evidence and urgently needed solutions for the interlinked climate change, biodiversity loss and water quality degradation crises on the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, and globally. More information about the Climate+ Co-Centre can be found here. 

You will develop methods to examine the role of natural climate variability in modulating climate projections for different global warming levels. The GWLs concept provides projections of how the climate will look if global temperatures are stabilised at e.g. 1.5°C, 2°C or 3°C. Current projections of future change tend to focus upon the multi-model ensemble mean to extract a best estimate of the likely change. This down weights the substantial role of natural variability which could augment or mask an underlying climate signal on decadal to multi-decadal timescales, especially regionally over Ireland & the UK. This project aims to undertake research into and quantification of the potential impacts of natural variability on climate change projections through the balance of this century on the British and Irish Isles working with another researcher to be appointed at Reading University.  Therefore, we are looking for candidates who can work well with other members of the team at Newcastle, as well as our academic collaborators.

You will use the latest model simulations from large ensembles including: (1) CMIP6 projections; (2) UKCP18 projections for the whole of Ireland & the UK; (3) Existing downscaled simulations of CMIP5 and CMIP6 with a specific GWL focus; (4) Regional climate projections produced by ICHEC (downscaled CMIP5&6), Met Eireann (TRANSLATE) and EURO-CORDEX; (5) Specific stabilized climate simulations. 

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement, and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples.

For informal queries regarding the project or the role, please contact Professor Hayley Fowler (hayley.fowler@newcastle.ac.uk)

The position is fixed term for a period of 2 years with a view for the successful appointee to commence employment as soon as possible. The position if offered on a full-time basis (37 hours per week), based on site in Newcastle.  We would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible and/or blended working.

Interviews will be held 6th & 7th March 2025.

Click here to see more about working in the School of Engineering.

Key Accountabilities

The overall project aims to

• Develop GWL-focussed projections for UK & Ireland, including quantification of natural variability.
• Develop a set of metrics relevant to the quantification of the impacts of climate change and climate variability of broad relevance to the co-centre and external users, and analyse these metrics for the model projections that have been identified. 
• Examine the causes, spatial patterns and timescales of internal and natural climate variability, including large-scale atmospheric dynamics, for Ireland & the UK. 
• Explore the physical mechanisms for why this variability occurs.
• Create a set of actionable outputs (products and timeseries) that can be used by internal and external users.

You will contribute to this by

• Contributing ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of your studies.
• Determining appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required.
• Assessing research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
• Contributing to the writing up of your research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications.
• Presenting research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles.  These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge and research experience in analysing climate model outputs and observational datasets.
• Evidence of planning and organisation of research.
• Experience in computer coding and handling of large datasets.
• A developing research profile with a track record of research publications appropriate to career stage.
• Ability to plan and implement research projects effectively and deliver outputs to meet tight deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience in statistical analysis of extremes.
• Experience in working with high resolution models.
• Ability to contribute to the development of funding proposals to generate external funding to support research (Associate level)

Attributes and Behaviour

• Capacity for original thought and initiating new research ideas.
• Ability to work independently, as well as to collaborate effectively with other researchers and project partners.
• An ability to communicate effectively via oral and written media.

Qualifications

• A PhD (or close to completion for Assistant level) in the field of environmental science, engineering or related discipline.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 27814