Two Job Opportunities at the Met Office have been published: one on convective parametrization and one on cloud parametrization.

Applications must be submitted to Human Resources (following the instructions and additional information given here). However, informal enquiries may be addressed to Alison Stirling (for the convection job) or to Cyril Morcrette (for the cloud job).

Salary: For Foundation Scientist role starting £21,250 and for exceptional candidates up to £24,250, for Scientist role starting £25,500 and for exceptional candidates up to £29,100 or for Senior Scientist role starting £29,930 and for exceptional candidates up to £35,040 + competitive benefits, including Civil Service Pension.

Generic role: Foundation Scientist or Scientist or Senior Scientist
Profession: Science and Engineering
Permanent. Full time at Met Office, Exeter

Background information:

Clouds and convection have a major influence on the atmosphere, and their accurate representation in models has wide-reaching implications, from improving the predictability of weather forecasts to increasing the reliability of climate projections. Recent developments in our understanding of clouds and convection, and in the observational and modelling tools available to study them, present an exciting opportunity for making significant progress in both fields. The job holder will work at the forefront of atmospheric science, developing an understanding of the fundamental physical processes, and using the findings to make significant and lasting improvements to the Met Office's climate and weather forecast model (the Unified Model) - from climate configurations to convective-scale modelling. Developments in this field would be of interest to the wider scientific community, and as such, the job holder would have the opportunity to publish in scientific journals, attend conferences, and develop an international profile as an atmospheric scientist.

The successful applicant will join the Atmospheric Processes and Parametrizations team (APP) which works on improving the representation of sub-grid-scale physical processes such as convection and clouds in the Unified Model. There are two vacancies in APP:

1) Convection Research Scientist and 2) Clouds Research Scientist.

Candidates may wish to apply for either of these posts, or be considered for both. We welcome applications from people with different levels of experience. We have 3 levels - Foundation Scientist, Scientist and Senior Scientist. We will appoint at the level appropriate to the successful applicant.

Specific job purpose

To develop our understanding of the physics controlling clouds and convection and use that insight to improve the parametrizations used in the UM to perform weather forecasts and climate predictions.

Specific job responsibilities

· To carry out research and development to improve the representation of clouds or convection in the Unified Model.
· To contribute to the presentation and publication of the work both internally and externally in order to maintain our scientific capability, integrity and transparency.
· To develop skills relating to the maintenance and development of the parametrization schemes.
· To provide scientific/technical advice to other team members on some work aspects to improve the effectiveness of the team.

Qualifications, skills and abilities required:

Essential:

· All: A good degree (2:1 or above) in mathematics or a physical science.
       Scientist: A PhD in mathematics or a physical science or equivalent research experience
       Senior scientist: Post-doctoral experience in the atmospheric sciences.
· Proven ability to conduct scientific research, displaying initiative, independence and analytical skills.
· Evidence of the motivation and drive to overcome obstacles in order to solve scientific problems.
· Evidence of the ability to write software to address scientific questions.
· All: Evidence of the ability to work flexibly within a team.
Senior Scientist: Evidence of ability to provide scientific/technical leadership or mentoring to junior staff.
· Evidence of good oral and written scientific communication skills (e.g. writing reports, giving presentations).

Desirable:

· Experience of research studying convection or clouds.
· Experience of a scientific computing environment, for example using Fortran, IDL/Python or UNIX/LINUX.
· Experience with the Met Office UM or LEM.

Additional supplementary information:

If successful at passing the sift stage, we will inform you at what level we think your experience aligns itself within the letter inviting you to an interview (Foundation Scientist/Scientist/Senior Scientist).

 
Opening date for applications: 12 June 2013
Closing date for applications: 14 July 2013

Fecha de publicación: 27/06/2013