Senior Research Associate in Earth System Modelling of the Last Glacial Cycle – University of B[...] in Bristol

The School of Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol, UK, seeks a Senior Research Associate/Research Fellow in Earth System Modelling of the Last Glacial Cycle.

Past climates provide a unique test-bed of our fundamental understanding of key processes and mechanisms that control the Earth system, as well as the potential for testing state-of-the-art Earth system models in regimes other than today. The last glacial-interglacial cycle is a particularly important and interesting period as data quality is high yet there remain many aspects of Earth System change that we do not fully understand.

This senior five-year Research Fellowship will initially be responsible for configuring, running, analysing, and publishing Earth System model simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum (21,000 years before present), using the state-of-the-art UKESM model. A provisional configuration is already working but this needs to be finalised and long runs need to be completed. Subsequently, there will be considerable flexibility to develop a research portfolio to explore the mechanism and processes controlling past changes to the Earth system. This will likely include further simulations with UKESM and the use of other models such as HadCM3 and GENIE, as well as extensive comparison to palaeo-data.

The LGM simulations will be the UKESM contribution to the Paleoclimate Model Intercomparison Project (PMIP4) and comparison of our results to other model simulations for the period will be strongly encouraged. PMIP is part of CMIP6 and we expect our results to feed into the next IPCC assessment reports and therefore to ultimately inform policy.

This opportunity is open to all genders and career stages.

Responsibilities

• Configure, run, analyse, and publish Earth System model simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) using UKESM.
• Finalise the provisional configuration and conduct long runs.
• Develop a research portfolio to explore mechanisms and processes controlling past changes to the Earth system.
• Conduct further simulations with UKESM and consider other models (e.g., HadCM3, GENIE) and perform extensive comparisons to palaeo-data.
• Coordinate with PMIP4 activities as the UKESM contribution and compare results with other model simulations for the period.
• Engage with potential outputs that inform future IPCC assessments and policy.

Qualifications

• Experience in Earth System modelling and data-model comparison, with a focus on palaeoclimate periods.
• Ability to configure and run coupled climate models and analyse large simulation outputs.
• Strong written and presentational skills for publishing results and contributing to scientific assessments.

The role is a five-year Research Fellowship with a focus on the Last Glacial Maximum simulations and subsequent research development, with opportunities to expand into related models and palaeo-data comparisons.