5-year Postdoc fellowship in Computer Science (PL) for Climate Science (U of Cambridge)

Computational modelling is at the core of climate science, where complex models of earth systems are key to the scientific process. Most models embed significant inherent and accidental complexity which hampers verification and maintenance, reproducibility, and performance. There is consequently a pressing need for computer science research to provide the tools and techniques that climate scientists need to deliver new high-quality, high-performance, and high-assurance models.

Applying the latest computer science research to support climate science is the aim of this 5-year Early Career Academic Fellowship in the new Institute of Computing for Climate Science (ICCS) at the University of Cambridge. The institute is a joint venture between the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, the Department of Computer Science and Technology and University Information Services, thanks to a philanthropic
donation from Schmidt Futures.

ICCS will improve understanding of our changing climate through the development and dissemination of models for scientific computing. ICCS hosts a team of Research Software Engineers who work directly with four international Virtual Earth Systems Research Institutes (VESRI) to address computation and research software needs of climate scientists. This Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to carry out foundational research into computational support for climate science, with access to climate science teams.

As part of the interdisciplinary ICCS team, this opening is for an outstanding research scientist with expertise in working across the interfaces between data science, computer science and climate science. As part of the University of Cambridge, ICCS has a significant education and training component, through the commitment towards sharing its scientific insights openly and broadly, and will contribute strongly to Cambridge Zero, the University's climate change initiative, that is identifying routes to the creation of a sustainable, zero-carbon future for all.

Areas of expertise that are welcomed for this fellowship include:

    - Parallelisation and high-performance computing.
    - Programming language design and implementation.
    - Data visualisation and analysis.
    - Verification, particularly for numerical computing.
    - Machine learning in the context of modelling and its effective programming

Fellows will be encouraged to develop their own research agenda, with guidance and mentoring by the ICCS directors, in particular Dr Dominic Orchard who leads the Computer Science vision of the institute, and with Dr Jeremy Yallop.

The Fellow will be affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and Technology and expected to collaborate with the Research Software Engineers within ICCS and the VESRI Science teams. The appointment has generous travel and research expenses support, and will allow Fellows to supervise PhDs, apply for other funding, and engage with teaching within ICCS and across the University. The position also includes dining rights at
Queens' College.

Role requirements:

   - A PhD in Computer Science or another relevant subject area.
   - Normally at least three years' research experience (obtained in either academic or industrial settings).
   - A strong track record of published research in one or more relevant areas.
   - Evidence of potential for interdisciplinary collaborations.
   - Evidence of potential to obtain additional research funding.

Experience of teaching and research supervision is desirable.
This is a fixed term appointment and funds are initially available for 5 years. If you have questions regarding the role or application process, please contact Dominic Orchard ([email protected]) or Jeremy Yallop ([email protected]).

Please quote reference NR35996 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

More details: https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/40147/