Job Description

Salary

The starting salary will be from 34,132 on Grade E, depending on qualifications and experience.

Contractual hours

36.5

Package

Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).

Job category/type

Research

Date posted

09/07/2025

Job reference

Q06898

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

This new full time post is available from 1 October 2025 on a 12 month fixed term basis.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Prof James Screen. This NERC funded post is available from 1 October 2025. The successful applicant will contribute to the research activities of the 4SEE project, which examines the so-called 'signal-to-noise paradox' in climate predictions and projections.

Making atmospheric predictions beyond short-term weather forecasts requires predictable signals that change the likelihood of particular climate events amidst the unpredictable atmospheric noise. In seasonal climate prediction, numerical models are used to forecast the evolution of the atmosphere and ocean for the next few months. These models produce forecasts of North Atlantic climate that, on average, better predict the real world than themselves. Given that models and initial conditions are imperfect, we would expect the opposite. This has become known as the signal-to-noise paradox (SNP). The SNP is interpreted as an underestimation of the predictable signal in models, but its root cause remains a mystery. The post will contribute to the 4SEE project which aims to identify the physical causes of the SNP and develop pathways to eradicate it. The successful applicant will work under the immediate supervision of Prof James Screen and Prof Adam Scaife but join a large team of world-leading scientists including at the Met Office. The successful applicant will analyse new 100-member ensembles of subseasonal forecasts to determine the timescales, locations and conditions in the atmosphere where the SNP occurs, informing the physical processes that give rise to it and calibration approaches.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to efficiently analyse large data sets from climate model ensembles, requiring competency in scientific programming and data visualisation, and write papers for high-impact scientific journals.

Please ensure you read the 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 Devon

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 James Screen, j.screen@exeter.ac.uk.