Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, please note there may be delays to our recruitment timeline.
Description
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to undertake a world-class programme of scientific research, and to sustain for the UK an active and influential regional presence and a leadership role in Antarctic affairs.
We are seeking a marine scientist to lead and develop key areas of research concerning the role of the ocean in global climate. The successful candidate will become part of the Polar Oceans team within BAS, an internationally-leading group of >20 active scientists which currently has research projects relating to ocean circulation and processes, interactions with sea ice and ice sheets, and the global cycling of climatically-important variables such as heat and carbon. The post holder will develop these areas in new directions, using field data from research vessels and autonomous platforms, numerical modelling studies and/or innovative techniques such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. They will be instrumental in delivering key areas of core-funded science, and will also lead and contribute to new funding proposals, alongside BAS scientists and external partners. They will propose studentships through our network of training partnerships, and be actively involved in the supervision of doctoral candidate students.
The postholder will write and contribute to influential articles in leading international journals. They will represent BAS on diverse national and international forums, working to develop new community initiatives to develop further the research that we conduct. They will engage with key stakeholders across a range of sectors (potentially including Government, intergovernmental bodies, industry and NGOs) to increase interactions and the societally-beneficial use of our research. They will engage with the media concerning the importance of novel research findings.
Key areas of research will include some of:
- Large-scale ocean circulation, its variability and forcing, and potential changes under future climatic states
- Ocean processes and interactions with sea ice and glacial ice, and implications for large-scale patterns of change
- Global climatic implications of the changing oceanic storage of key properties such as heat and carbon
- Application of innovative techniques in marine science, such as the use of autonomous vehicles and machine learning/artificial intelligence.
This is an exciting opportunity to play an important role in the development of climate-related ocean science at BAS. The successful applicant will join the Polar Oceans team, which has extensive ongoing projects across many of these areas, and which is seeking to further develop its research portfolio. To fulfil this role, the postholder will have access to a wide range of BAS and UK facilities, including a new ice-strengthened research vessel (the RRS Sir David Attenborough), a growing fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles, access to advanced high-performance computing facilities, and research stations/laboratories in Cambridge, Antarctica and Svalbard (Arctic).
Purpose
To take a leading role in developing and delivering world-class research concerning the role of the oceans in the global climate system. The studies will enhance understanding of key oceanic processes, such as large-scale circulation, interactions of the ocean with the atmosphere, sea ice and land ice, biogeochemical processes, and the cycling of climatically-important properties such as heat and carbon. The appointee will be expected to take a leading role in developing and securing funding for innovative studies, potentially including fieldwork and/or numerical modelling, and delivering core-funded science.
Qualification
PhD or equivalent in marine science, climate science, or numerate discipline
Duties
- As part of the Polar Oceans team, to develop and lead research into the ocean’s role in influencing global climate.
- With BAS scientists and external partners, to lead and contribute to funding proposals that will develop and enhance this area of research.
- To line manage scientists within the Polar Oceans team working on related science projects, and to propose studentships and supervise students researching these areas.
- To publish important scientific results in internationally-leading journals, and to present at national and international conferences.
- To represent BAS on national and international forums, providing strategic input to the develop of new community initiatives.
- To engage with stakeholders concerning the use of science for influencing policymakers and the wider community.
Please quote reference: BAS 21/73
Publication date: 30 March 2021
Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 9 May 2021
Interviews are scheduled to be held: End of May / Early June
More information at https://www.bas.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy/ocean-climate-scientist/#jobdescription
BAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting equality in careers in science, we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme of activity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities and disabled people are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job and will provide necessary adaptations for the interview. We are open to a range of flexible working options, including job sharing, to support childcare and other caring responsibilities.