Postdoctoral Research Assistant – National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

The National Oceanography Centre, part of the Natural Environment Research Council, is a national research organisation, delivering integrated marine science and technology from the coast to the deep ocean and is one of the top five institutions of its kind in the world. With sites in Liverpool and Southampton, it is the UK’s leading centre for sea level science, coastal and deep ocean research and technology development. Working closely with its partners and associates it provides capability to meet the needs across the UK marine science community.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join a new project examining the Earth’s heat budget. Recent results suggest that, while the rate at which energy enters the top of the atmosphere is rising, the energy accumulating in the upper ocean appears to have risen less quickly since 2003 than in previous decades. The period (a so-called hiatus period) is characterized by stable surface temperatures but increasing sea level and atmospheric CO2.

The post is based in the Marine Physics and Ocean Climate Group at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. You will join the Ocean Circulation and Processes group, home to the UK’s National Capability in Argo and Repeat hydrography and the UK contribution to the RAPID-MOC array. You will collaborate with other members of the DEEP-C (Diagnosing Earth’s Energy Pathways in the Climate system) project at the University of Reading and the Met Office as well as other UK and international scientists where appropriate. There will be an opportunity to take part in a major research cruise gathering new ocean climate data.

You will generate global estimates of full-depth ocean heat content (OHC) using in situ data including Argo and hydrographic data; the spatial distribution of OHC since 2000 is of particular interest in order to describe and understand the recent hiatus.

Candidates should have a PhD, or equivalent research experience, in Physical Oceanography. They should have experience of analysis of in situ oceanographic data.

Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Dr. Elaine McDonagh, e.mcdonagh@noc.ac.uk

The post is funded by a Standard Research Grant from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), for a period of three years, and is available from 1st July 2013. The appointment will be at NERC Band 6 with a salary range of £26,450 to £29,710 per annum. NERC provides benefits that include a RCUK pension scheme and a generous leave scheme offering up to 30 days leave and a further 10.5 Public/privilege days. Opportunities for further training and development are supported.

Further information on the application process, including a job specification, is on the Research Council’s Shared Service Centre recruitment site http://topcareer.jobs/. Please quote reference number IRC85049 on all correspondence.  Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 00 44 (0) 1793 867003.

Closing date: 14 April 2013.