Job Description

Salary

UH7 38,784pa (pro rata) to 46,049pa (pro rata) by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience

Contractual hours

37

Basis

Full Time

Job category/type

Academic/Research

Job reference

REQ000354

Post Title:

Research Fellow in Climate Science

SBU/Department:

School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science (SPECS), Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics (PAM)

FTE:

1.0 fte (working 37 hours per week) (Part time may be considered)

Duration of Contract:

Fixed Term for 1 Year

Annual Leave:

35 days (pro rata) plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location:

College Lane Campus, Hatfield. Remote working will be considered

This post offers an exciting opportunity for the candidate to be part of an international team of researchers working on examining atmospheric composition and climate interactions and related impacts on weather, air quality and health. The research is a part of a major Horizon Europe project, FOCI, on non-CO2 radiative forcers (https://www.project-foci.eu/wp/). You will also have opportunities to work on other relevant projects and initiatives as stated below.

Main duties and responsibilities

The aim of the research is to undertake simulations with atmospheric and climate models and investigate interactions between atmospheric composition and climate change as well as use available observations to evaluate and improve these predictions.

You will contribute to ongoing and future atmospheric composition and climate research programmes and be responsible for input data processing and analysis of model predictions and relevant observations to understand the underlying processes and interactions. The successful candidate will engage in and contribute to problem solving on day-to-day issues related to the ongoing and new research projects, actively contribute to the development of process-based analysis approaches including use of large datasets of model predictions and observations and maintain and update relevant software and codes on the University's Unix/Linux high performance cluster and contribute to analysis and acquisition of observations where relevant.

You will assist in other relevant activities and projects for example, preparation of funding proposals, engagement with conferences and workshops and contribute to our wider scientific and stakeholder networks and assist in the maintenance of the high performance computing cluster and relevant software, Centre websites and activities related to the Climate and atmospheric physics laboratory.

Skills and experience required

You will have demonstrable experience of development and/or use of advanced high resolution regional scale atmospheric and climate models, specifically WRF-CMAQ or similar, experience of input data pre-processing for atmospheric climate modelling using software (e.g. SMOKE, MEGAN), boundary conditions from global models and related observations and strong experience of computational programming techniques for atmospheric and climate physics applications e.g. Fortran and python on Unix platforms, data analysis/visualisation techniques. Experience working in a research team and research experience in the subject area including, as appropriate, collaborative partnerships with other HEI's or external partners is essential.

A good level of understanding of atmospheric and climate science and Earth system approaches and a willingness to maintain and optimise codes and files on computing platforms is essential. You will have knowledge of research methodology appropriate for the subject area, knowledge of appropriate databases for your discipline and ability to conduct literature searches in the discipline using appropriate electronic resources and good IT skills, including the use of MS Office. Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills in spoken and written English, being numerate and literate with accurate keyboard skills and being able to work to tight deadlines, dealing with conflicting priorities and to work accurately under pressure are all essential.

Qualifications required

You will be educated with a Degree or equivalent level 6 qualification, or higher qualification in a relevant discipline and a PhD (or equivalent level 8 qualification), or equivalent experience.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.

Internal applicants- please ensure you apply via your employee self service portal. An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

Please note, this post cannot be visa sponsored unless you can evidence a PhD / Doctorate.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries:

Prof. Ranjeet S Sokhi, r.s.sokhi@herts.ac.uk

Closing Date:

09 November 2025

Interview Date:

TBC

Reference Number:

REQ000354

Date advert placed:

24 October 2025

Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts