Research Fellow in Climate Dynamics, Southampton

About the Position

The University of Southampton invites applications for a Research Fellow in Climate Dynamics within the School of Ocean and Earth Science at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. This exciting position is part of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project led by Dr Duo Chan, titled “Accurate projections of climate recovery from a combination of historical data, simple models and AI.” The successful candidate will contribute to advancing climate prediction models by integrating historical data, physics-based simulations, and artificial intelligence. The fellowship offers a three-year fixed-term appointment with the possibility of extension, providing an exceptional opportunity to collaborate with a vibrant international research community dedicated to understanding and projecting climate change dynamics.

Position Details

Position: Research Fellow in Climate Dynamics
Institution: University of Southampton
Department: School of Ocean and Earth Science
Research Field: Climate Dynamics, Earth System Modelling
Location: National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom
Number of Posts: One
Job Type: Full-time, Fixed-term (36 months, with possible 1-year extension)
Start Date (Anticipated): 2026
Working Hours: Full-time
Salary Range: £36,636 – £43,482 per annum
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research Area

Climate dynamics and modelling
Earth system simulations
Bayesian inference and reduced-order modelling
Climate data analysis and projections
Climate mitigation and recovery processes

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD (or equivalent) in Climate Science, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, or a closely related field.
Experience in climate model simulation and analysis of Earth System Models (ESM).

Preferred Qualifications:

Expertise in reduced-order modelling, Bayesian inference, and climate mitigation scenarios.
Strong background in statistics, data analysis, and large-scale climate dynamics.
Excellent quantitative, analytical, and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

Develop observation-constrained reduced-order models to replicate ESM simulations.
Diagnose inter-model differences and analyse underlying climate processes.
Integrate historical instrumental and palaeo-proxy records using Bayesian methods.
Collaborate with national and international partners within the climate science community.
Contribute to the development of next-generation climate modelling tools.