Senior Research Associate in Ice Sheet Geodesy - 1629-23

View All Vacancies Lancaster Environment Centre
Location:  

Bailrigg

Salary:  

£38,205 to £44,263

Closing Date:  

Wednesday 28 February 2024

Interview Date:  

Monday 18 March 2024

Reference:  

1629-23

Hours: Full time

Contract Length: 2.5 years, with the option to extend for a further 2 years.

 Job Description

We are seeking to recruit an independent, highly-motivated senior post-doctoral researcher to work on the ERC-selected grant The Greenland Subglacial Lake Observatory (GLOBE), at Lancaster University. We welcome applications from candidates with a background in satellite geodesy, including analysis of stereoscopic DEM’s, radar or laser altimetry, and InSAR; or with expertise in data science.

Joining the UK’s Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM), and the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science (CEEDS), you will work on the newly-funded GLOBE project (a successful ERC proposal that has been funded by UKRI under the Horizon Guarantee scheme). GLOBE aims to identify, monitor and forecast all subglacial lake activity beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, and thereby transform our understanding of the dynamics, drivers and impacts of these elusive entities. This will be achieved through the use of high resolution satellite datasets, unconventional data streams and a range of data science techniques, with the ultimate ambition of developing an ice sheet wide virtual subglacial lake observatory. This post represents the opportunity to be at the forefront of this ambitious 5-year programme of work, helping to lead the development of the satellite-based observatory, together with the scientific analysis and publication of the results.

The precise responsibilities of the advertised post are flexible (and can be tailored to the skills of the successful applicant), but are likely to include (1) the design and implementation of a satellite-based system for monitoring Greenland subglacial lakes, which exploits high-volume, high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEM’s), (2) the integration of laser (ICESat-2) and radar (CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3) altimetry with DEM’s to develop a unified system for quantifying ice sheet elevation change, and (3) the exploration of data science techniques to increase automation and predictive power within the overall observatory system. The successful applicant will also be given considerable opportunities to pursue their own research ideas that are aligned with the overall aim of the project. They will benefit from dedicated support by technical staff, a generous budget to facilitate travel, and the opportunity to work on a project that places significant emphasis on high-risk, high-impact research.

 The UK Centre for Polar Observation & Modelling

You will become a member of CPOM, which provides the UK with core strategic capability in polar satellite observation; measurements that are used to investigate ongoing changes across Earth’s polar regions. The centre receives long-term strategic funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and works in close partnership with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), as well as the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), and the UK Met Office. CPOM also collaborates closely with ESA on current satellite missions and future design concepts, including CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3 and CRISTAL.

 Lancaster University

At Lancaster University, you will join our dynamic and rapidly-growing group of polar researchers, who use satellite observations, climate models and field measurements to study the cryosphere. We offer an ambitious, friendly and supportive environment for developing a career in polar research, and our group includes undergraduates, PhD students, post-doctoral researchers and more senior academics. Lancaster University has been named University of the Year 2018 and International University of the Year 2020 , by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. The University is ranked in the top 10 UK Universities and the top 1% in the World, and hosts The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC), the largest and most interdisciplinary department of the University. You will also have the opportunity to join CEEDS, a new initiative between LEC, Lancaster’s Data Science Institute and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. CEEDS aims to bring together Environmental and Data Scientists to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing society, and to accelerate the use of Data Science methods in Environmental Science. 

 Further Details

We welcome applications from all diversity groups. Preferred candidates for this post will have a PhD or postdoctoral experience in satellite geodesy, geophysics, glaciology, astrophysics, computer science or data science. Independence, critical thinking and excellent interpersonal skills are essential, alongside the ability to work collaboratively as part of a larger team.

This is a full time post, anticipated to start in April 2024, or at a mutually agreed date, and to finish in October 2026, with the option to extend the position for a further 2 years thereafter.

 Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Mal McMillan; [email protected].

Further details:

Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.

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