Climate Ocean-Modeller – DEEPICE

In the framework of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) DEEPICE, the UKRI/NERC British Antarctic Survey, University of Cambridge offers

A PhD position as a Climate Ocean-Modeller in Climate Science to interpret Antarctic Deep Ice.

Antarctica represents a key region in the Earth’s climate system, where anthropogenic impacts may have important consequences for the future of global sea level due to the large volume of fresh water stored in the ice sheet. Several deep ice cores have already been drilled which describe natural climate variability in Antarctica over a large range of timescales, i.e., covering orbital-scale variability down to annual-scale variations. Water isotopes recorded in these Antarctic ice cores are influenced by sources and trajectories of the water mass from the evaporative source to the polar precipitation site, and permit very significant insight into Antarctic ice sheet and climate change. In parallel, the analyses of air trapped in ice cores provide a direct access of past changes in atmospheric composition, permitting the role of the forcing in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations on natural climate change to be examined.

A key challenge for the orbital-scale natural variability is to understand why the periodicity of glacial to interglacial cycles changed from 41 to 100 thousand of years during the so-called Mid-Pleistocene Transition, between 0.8 and 1.2 million years (Myr) ago, while at the same time the orbital forcing given by astronomical parameters keeps the same periodicity. The oldest Antarctic ice core is currently 0.8 Myr which does not enable answering this key question in climate sciences. However, during the H2020 Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice core (BE OI) project, ten European research institutes will unite to drill a 1.5 Myr ice core on the East Antarctic plateau: now is thus the time to address the major scientific questions on the role of ice sheet size and greenhouse gases concentrations on the dynamics of Antarctica and global change.

This project will investigate the different possible influences on past water isotope changes in the East Antarctic plateau over the last 1.5 million years. The successful candidate will use climate-ocean models with explicit isotope diagnostics.

They will (1) examine the impact of MPT Antarctic, and global, ice sheet changes on the Antarctic ice core records of water isotopes, (2) evaluate the differences in the representation of the hydrological cycle across isotope enabled models, (3) evaluate the model simulations using climatic and environmental records from natural archives, and in particular (4) develop our understanding of how multi-model differences impact on our understanding of the water isotope measurements. This will improve our modelling of this key period and our interpretation of the new isotope measurements that will be measured on the future BE OI (Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice); improve understanding of how key ice sheet changes impacted on the records of MPT transition; and enable a -European cross-comparison of new water isotope enabled CMIP6-class models.

The candidate will have a degree or higher qualification in a relevant physical science subject, previous experience of programming in a linux/unix environment including familiarity with Fortran and Python, and experience of handing large data sets. Experience working with cluster based computing, cloud computing and with geophysical and ideally ocean/atmosphere/climate data is strongly desirable.

Apart from his/her own research, the candidate will be involved in the extensive DEEPICE training programme including three summer schools and outreach activities and must be willing to spend an extended time at secondments with other DEEPICE partner institutions.

The candidate for this position can have any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in United Kingdom for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

DEEPICE is a research and training network on understanding deep ice core proxies to infer past Antarctic climate dynamics. It is funded by the EU HORIZON2020 programme and consists of 10 academic partner organisations from 10 European countries plus 9 collaborating institutions from academia and industry. In total 15 early stage researchers (PhD students) will be employed after a competitive recruitment process and work together within the European DEEPICE consortium. Each early career scientist will be supervised by his/her local main supervisor and a co-supervisor within the consortium. For each of the early career scientist positions a recruitment panel adhering to strict gender equality and equal opportunity rules will be set up consisting of the supervisors, a member of the University of Cambridge and BAS HR. Selection criteria will encompass the potential as researchers, creativity, level of independence, teamwork ability, knowledge, and communication experience and availability for the intended start date. The candidate will be employed by UKRI/NERC British Antarctic Survey according to standard rules, the annual salary will be £34,973 to £42,963 plus a monthly mobility allowance of £458. For additional information please contact Dr. Louise Sime (email: lsim@bas.ac.uk).

More information about eligibility and employment conditions can be found at: https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/sites/mariecurie2/files/msca-itn-fellows-note_en_v2.pdf

As you will be registered for your degree with the University of Cambridge, you must submit an application through the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions portal – course name PhD in Antarctic Studies for Lent Term 2022, but we anticipate a start date of 1st October 2021. You will be required to upload your CV, research summary, statement of interest, research experience in addition to other information. You will also need to provide the details of two academic referees. Applications must be made no later 11:59 GMT on 28th March 2021. Unfortunately we are unable to consider candidates who do not apply through the University of Cambridge or after the deadline.

Purpose

Duties

Please quote reference: BAS 21/36
Publication date: 26 January 2021
Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 28 March 2021
Interviews are scheduled to be held: 16 April 2021

BAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting equality in careers in science, we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme of activity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities and disabled people are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job and will provide necessary adaptations for the interview. We are open to a range of flexible working options, including job sharing, to support childcare and other caring responsibilities.