Research Associate in Stochastic Rainfall Modelling

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Research Associate in Stochastic Rainfall Modelling

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position funded by a European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 project, ‘DOWN2EARTH: Translation of climate information into multilevel decision support for social adaptation, policy development, and resilience to water scarcity in the Horn of Africa Drylands’. This is a large, interdisciplinary project comprising 14 partner institutions in 8 countries. It is designed to strengthen climate services in the drylands of East Africa through research on climate, water, and food, as well as social adaptation and policy development.

This position will be based in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University. The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences is a dynamic and successful multi-disciplinary centre devoted to research in Earth and environmental sciences.

Working with Dr Michael Singer and Dr Mark Cuthbert (at Cardiff and others at other partner institutions), the role of the Research Associate (RA) is to develop, test, and implement a new regional stochastic rainfall model for the Horn of Africa drylands. This model will capture the essential components of climatological drivers of rainfall, the rainfall characteristics they produce within individual rainstorms, and their spatial and temporal distributions. The model, a new version of the existing STOchastic Rainstorm Model (STORM), will be used to drive a hydrological model (developed by a different member of the team) to resolve the water balance across the Horn of Africa drylands for historical decades, near-term (seasonal) forecasts, and future climate projections. The model will take into consideration historical climate information from various sources including gauging data, remote sensing, and climate model output to develop realistic distributions of key rainfall characteristics that support the generation of time series of spatial rainfall fields across a region spanning multiple countries in the Horn of Africa.

The RA will work closely to co-develop research with other interdisciplinary researchers within the project consortium, as well as with relevant stakeholders who may be consumers of the new technology developed in DOWN2EARTH. They will also play a leading role in developing and delivering training to enable others to use and implement the model on their systems.

In addition to these duties, the RA will be expected to produce work of publishable quality for appropriate respected peer reviewed journals, present papers at national and international conferences, develop outreach opportunities related to the DOWN2EARTH project, and contribute to the development of collaborative research grants.

The successful applicant will hold or have nearly completed a Ph.D. in a relevant subject. Expertise in climate science, analysis of rainfall, and modelling experience (ideally in Python) is essential, but there will be opportunities for the RA to learn some aspects of the science (e.g., dryland hydrology) and coding on the job. Experience with high-performance computing also desirable.

This position is full time (35 hours per week). It is available from 1st October 2021 and is a fixed-term appointment until 30th September 2023, with a possibility of extension beyond that timeframe.

Salary: £34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6)

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Michael Singer, email: [email protected]

For further details about working in Cardiff University please contact Briony FitzGerald, email: [email protected]
More information on the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences - Cardiff University

Important Notes:

Applications can only be accepted via the online system.

It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.  Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number

Date advert posted: Friday, 10 September 2021

Closing date: Friday, 1 October 2021

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only.  We now invite external applications.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”

Job Description

Main Function

To conduct research within stochastic rainfall modelling and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research
• To conduct research within stochastic rainfall modelling and contribute to the overall research performance of the        School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national      academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and co-supervision of postgraduate research students.
•   To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals
•   To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required
•   To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of       the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
•   To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
•   To participate in School research activities.
•   To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions,   explore future      research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects

Other
• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other         academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally  to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate    strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
•   To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
•   To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University         and  the outside world
•   Organise and deliver trainings to stakeholders on using hydrological models and their outputs

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1.            Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.            An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:
i.              Climate modelling
ii.             Python coding

3.            Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field

4.            Proven ability to publish in international journals and international conferences
5.            Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

Communication and Team Working
6.            Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication

7.            Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals

Other
8.            Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work

9.            Proven ability to work without close supervision

Desirable Criteria

10.          Relevant professional qualification(s)-

11.          Evidence of collaborations with stakeholders.

12.          Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.

13.          Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.

Job Category

Academic - Research