Job Opportunity: Research Associate in Planetary Atmospheric Science

School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester

Full Details:  https://jobs.le.ac.uk/vacancies/2535/research-associate-in-planetary-atmospheric-science.html   

Salary Grade 7 £34,804 to £40,322 per annum

Funding is available until 31 March 2022 with a possibility of extension

Closing date:  28 February 2021

 

The School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester invites applications for one or more Research Associates in Planetary Atmospheric Science. 

The Research Associates will join the atmospheres team led by Dr. Leigh Fletcher, tasked with addressing the scientific aims of a European Research Council (ERC) grant to explore time-variable processes shaping the atmospheres of the giant planets.  Successful candidates would have existing skills in planetary spectral data analysis and/or numerical modelling expertise of relevance to giant planet atmospheres.  Research Associate positions will initially be for a period of 12 months, with funding available until the end of March 2022 with a potential for this to be extended.

The “GIANTCLIMES” programme seeks investigates natural cycles of meteorology, circulation, and chemical processes shaping the environments of the four giant planets over long spans of time.  Inversions of planetary spectra, from ground- and space-based facilities, will be used to reconstruct these atmospheres in three dimensions to explore their temporal variability and the processes coupling different atmospheric regimes.  The successful applicant will be expected to develop and expand on our pipeline for interpreting “Guaranteed-Time” and “Early-Release” giant planet observations from the James Webb Space Telescope.  In addition, the applicant will conduct joint analyses of thermal-infrared, near-infrared, and microwave observations of giant planet tropospheres.    We are therefore particularly interested in candidates with existing expertise in planetary data analysis, planetary atmospheres, and spectroscopic modelling techniques, but all applicants with a strong background in planetary science are encouraged to apply. 

Applications much be made via the link above.  Informal queries are welcome and can be made to Dr Leigh Fletcher on leigh.fletcher@le.ac.uk.