Senior Research Associate in Modelling Atmospheric Oxidation in the Tropics
We are seeking to appoint a senior postdoctoral research associate at Lancaster University for the project "Determination of Tropical Oxidising Capacity through model calibration" (DeTOX). This is a full-time post with funding for up to 42 months. We would like someone to start in March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The DeTOX project aims to advance our understanding of atmospheric oxidation in the tropics to improve projections of future atmospheric composition in response to climate change and tropical development. The project will provide the first rigorous constraints on oxidation by bringing together observations and global atmospheric models using innovative statistical and machine-learning approaches. It aims for the first clear attribution of how uncertainty in different physical, chemical and meteorological processes influences our understanding of atmospheric oxidation, and fresh insight into how oxidation may change in future. The project is led by Lancaster, drawing on expertise in atmospheric modelling and data science, and involves partners at six UK institutions and collaborators in the US.
The successful candidate will develop and apply the FRSGC/UCI global chemistry transport model to quantify the impacts of key processes on oxidants in the tropics. They will bring together a comprehensive suite of observations to constrain models and will run perturbed parameter ensembles with the model to inform calibration. The calibrated model will be used to investigate how tropospheric composition in the tropics is likely to change in future.
We are keen to hear from candidates who have a PhD in atmospheric science or a closely related discipline, experience in developing and applying atmospheric models, and strong skills in programming and data analysis using R, Python or similar languages.
This position is based in the Atmospheric Science research group at the Lancaster Environment Centre. The group has a strong national and international track record in measurements and modelling, with expertise in air quality, biogenic emissions, halocarbons, atmospheric oxidation and climate change. Lancaster Environment Centre is the largest department at Lancaster University and is a friendly community of world-class researchers addressing today’s biggest environmental challenges.
For further details of the post and to apply, please visit https://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=0801-25-R
To find out more about the position or for an informal chat about the role, please contact Prof. Oliver Wild (o.wild@lancaster.ac.uk)