Job Description

Salary

The starting salary will be from 34,610 on Grade E, and from 43,482 on Grade F 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

24/10/2025

Job reference

Q09639

Environment, Science and Economy faculty

This new full-time post is available from November 2025 on a fixed term basis for 3 years (finishing no later than April 2029)

Ideally looking for a candidate who can work 1FTE but potentially open to someone working 0.8FTE.

The posts

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Associates of three-years duration to work on UplandDep This post is fully funded by the following grantee and project:

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) via the Improving pollutant deposition estimates to upland ecosystems project (UplandDep)


Atmospheric deposition is a major removal pathway of atmospheric pollutants, such as nitrogen, and deposition can lead to plant damage and affect biodiversity. Complex orography has a substantial impact on deposition, but this orographic impact has large uncertainties and is poorly represented in atmospheric chemistry and transport models. The UplandDep project will make significant progress in the understanding of deposition processes in complex upland terrain. The successful applicant will be expected to work on improving the representation of deposition processes in complex terrain within the Met Office's atmospheric dispersion model, NAME, alongside colleagues at UKCEH working on the EMEP model. The tasks will involve analysing the accuracy and use of input meteorological data for deposition modelling in upland areas, implementing improvements to the representation in NAME of deposition processes such as seeder-feeder, occult (fog) deposition and turbulent dry deposition, and assessing the impact of model resolution on performance. Alongside this, model improvements will be assessed against new and historic measurement data and the impact of improvements on assessments of the UK nitrogen budget will be quantified.

Full details of the position are given in the supporting documents.

The successful applicants will be expected to work closely with colleagues at the University of Exeter, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, the University of Manchester and the UK Environment Agency but also with colleagues in the national and international arena and with colleagues at the Met Office. They will be expected to produce peer-reviewed papers documenting the results.

About you

At Grade F:

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in maths, physics, computer-science, meteorology, or a related numerate scientific discipline. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in atmospheric sciences and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to conduct simulations of NWP models and/or atmospheric dispersion models, have a rigorous and systematic approach to analysing results, as appropriate to the position noted above, and will have an appreciation of the atmospheric processes of wet and dry deposition.

At Grade E:

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, or be nearing completion of, a relevant PhD 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 expected to learn how to conduct simulations of NWP models and atmospheric dispersion models, have a rigorous and systematic approach to analysing results, as appropriate to the position noted above, and will have an appreciation of the atmospheric processes of wet and dry deposition.

Please ensure you read the and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

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% of our research is of international quality and 47% 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 Helen Webster, e-mail h.webster@exeter.ac.uk.