Job Description

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum pro-rata if part-time

College of Science and Engineering / School of GeoSciences

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: for 24 months, with start date of 1st September 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class, research-intensive institution. We offer a supportive working environment, excellent facilities, and opportunities for professional development within a diverse and international community.

The Opportunity:

This is an Academic Research (Postdoctoral Research Associate) opportunity within the School of GeoSciences.

We seek a postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) for a 24-month position to work on the UK NERC-funded grant “Quantifying Efficacy and risks of solar radiation management (SRM) approaches using natural analogues”. The project will use novel machine learning-based methods to determine the climate response to a range of natural event (e.g. wildfires, volcanic eruptions) which can be used as analogues of SRM to provide evidence for informing model improvement without worry about the risks of field experiments. The derived large-scale observational constraints will be used to constrain and advance climate models, and to attribute climate response to SRM.

This position will target a critical problem in climate modelling to improve cloud scheme that contributes one of the most important uncertainties in climate projections (Wang et al 2026, Nature Communications). Wang et al (2026) found that climate models largely underestimated cloud cover response to aerosol perturbation, pointing a key direction for improving climate projections. You will work closely with a Scientist at ETH Zurich to apply a new Neural Network-Based Cloud Fraction scheme into UKESM (UK Earth System Model) and design sensitivity experiments to test its effect, and lead the further improvement of cloud fraction scheme for climate simulations.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working. 

Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD in a highly quantitative subject, such as, but not limited to, atmospheric or climate science, meteorology, physics, earth observation.
• Expertise in working with climate modelling, ideally experience with model development with FORTRAN.
• Good programming skills in a data processing and visualization language such as Python, MATLAB, R or NCL.
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Experience of disseminating findings through scientific publications and conference presentations.

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How to apply

Please upload your CV, cover letter, and a Personal Statement detailing your motivation and how your experience meets the requirements

Informal enquires can be made to Dr Yu Wang: y.w@ed.ac.uk

https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/yu-wang-2/

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits pageand use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 29th May 2026.

Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.

Interviews will be held in June/July 2026.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.