Senior Research Associate - Sea Ice

This role sits within the Environment Forecasting Mission and is focused on advancing machine learning for multimodal sea ice forecasting across the Arctic and Antarctic (including high-resolution regional prediction). The postholder will lead the development of observationally driven AI models, help shape research direction with Principal Investigators and provide technical project leadership, balancing stakeholder needs with research outputs while collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team (researchers, software engineers, application managers, PhD students, interns). They’ll also take a lead on publishing and reporting findings, contributing to proposal/funding applications, presenting work to diverse audiences, supporting reproducible and ethical data science practices and supervising junior team members, with some travel and potential teaching as part of the role.

Your Profile

This role would suit someone who’s an applied machine learning researcher with strong hands‑on experience building and evaluating forecasting models (ideally with multimodal geospatial/EO data like satellite, reanalysis and in‑situ observations) and who’s excited by real‑world climate impact specifically sea ice prediction in the Arctic/Antarctic. They’re comfortable owning technical direction end‑to‑end (from data pipelines and model development through validation, reproducibility, and publication), can lead day‑to‑day research delivery and mentor others, and they enjoy working in a genuinely cross‑disciplinary setup, translating stakeholder needs into rigorous research outputs while collaborating closely with scientists, software engineers, and partners.

Main Duties

• Provide technical project management and leadership for research projects, ensuring successful outcomes.
• Liaise with clients and colleagues to understand and prioritise project goals, and balance client value with research outputs.
• Define the research direction in collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs).
• Be a point of contact, supporting PIs in engaging with stakeholders regarding projects and deputising in meetings where necessary.
• Take the lead on writing up findings, producing and developing reports, and developing publications in peer reviewed journals, in collaboration with the team.

Please see our portal for a full breakdown of the role.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 12 February 2026 at 23:59 (London, UK GMT)

Terms and Conditions

This full-time post is offered on a 2-year fixed term basis. The annual salary is £56,840 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies.

The Alan Turing Institute is based at the British Library, in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter. We expect staff to come to our office at least 4 days per month. Some roles may require more days in the office; the hiring manager will be able to confirm this during the interview.

Application Procedure

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button. It will redirect you to The Alan Turing Institute jobs portal, where you can find more information and a full job description for this role. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please email recruitment@turing.ac.uk.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability.