About the role
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Land–Atmosphere Interactions)
Reference: SRF54770
Job details
Job referenceSRF54770 Date posted13/11/2026 Application closing date15/12/2026 LocationWhiteknights Campus SalaryGrade 6, £37,369 to £43,099 per annum PackageBlank Contractual hours35 BasisFull time Job category/typeAcademic and Research Attachments SRF54770 - Research Associate-JDPS.pdfPostdoctoral Research Associate (Land–Atmosphere Interactions)
Job descriptionFull time, fixed term contract (24 months, with the option to extend for a further 12 months)
Closing date: 23:59 on 15 December 2026
Interviews will be held on 15th January 2027 (may be subject to change)
By reference to applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on UK Visas and Immigration Website UK Visas and Immigration Website.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join LAMDA (Land–atmosphere interactions as a mechanism of dryland formation), a project funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant and led by Dr Akash Koppa. LAMDA will develop a new theory of how humid regions turn into drylands. Specifically, it will combine paleoclimatic reconstructions with Earth system, ecosystem demographics, and atmospheric transport models to trace how drylands, vegetation, and land–atmosphere fluxes have co-evolved since 850 CE.
You will lead research in one or more of three directions: (a) constraining Earth system model simulations of the last millennium with paleoclimatic proxy records through data assimilation, (b) quantifying how the function, structure, and demography of vegetation respond to long-term drying and feed back to the atmosphere, and (c) assessing how human modification of the land surface, such as deforestation, afforestation, and irrigation, changes the rate at which drylands form. You will run model simulations on high-performance computing facilities, publish as lead author, and help supervise PhD students in the group. The post also offers close collaboration with research groups at the University of Bern and Ghent University, including extended research stays.
Reading is a leading centre for weather, climate, and environmental science, and ECMWF will move onto the Whiteknights campus in 2027. You will receive support to develop your own fellowship and grant applications.
You will have:
- A PhD (or near completion) in atmospheric science, climate science, Earth system science, ecology, hydrology, physical geography, physics, or a closely related field
- Specialist knowledge in paleoclimatic data assimilation and Earth system modelling, vegetation–climate interactions and ecosystem demography, or land use and land cover change and its effects on regional climate
- Experience of developing or applying numerical models of the Earth system, vegetation, or atmosphere
- Proficiency in scientific programming (for example Python, Julia, or Fortran) and in the analysis of large gridded datasets
- A record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage, including first-author papers
Contact details for advert
Contact Name Dr Akash Koppa
Job Title Lecturer
Email address [email protected]
We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.
The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.
Apply online Send to a friendPostdoctoral Research Associate (Land–Atmosphere Interactions)
Job descriptionFull time, fixed term contract (24 months, with the option to extend for a further 12 months)
Closing date: 23:59 on 15 December 2026
Interviews will be held on 15th January 2027 (may be subject to change)
By reference to applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on UK Visas and Immigration Website UK Visas and Immigration Website.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join LAMDA (Land–atmosphere interactions as a mechanism of dryland formation), a project funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant and led by Dr Akash Koppa. LAMDA will develop a new theory of how humid regions turn into drylands. Specifically, it will combine paleoclimatic reconstructions with Earth system, ecosystem demographics, and atmospheric transport models to trace how drylands, vegetation, and land–atmosphere fluxes have co-evolved since 850 CE.
You will lead research in one or more of three directions: (a) constraining Earth system model simulations of the last millennium with paleoclimatic proxy records through data assimilation, (b) quantifying how the function, structure, and demography of vegetation respond to long-term drying and feed back to the atmosphere, and (c) assessing how human modification of the land surface, such as deforestation, afforestation, and irrigation, changes the rate at which drylands form. You will run model simulations on high-performance computing facilities, publish as lead author, and help supervise PhD students in the group. The post also offers close collaboration with research groups at the University of Bern and Ghent University, including extended research stays.
Reading is a leading centre for weather, climate, and environmental science, and ECMWF will move onto the Whiteknights campus in 2027. You will receive support to develop your own fellowship and grant applications.
You will have:
- A PhD (or near completion) in atmospheric science, climate science, Earth system science, ecology, hydrology, physical geography, physics, or a closely related field
- Specialist knowledge in paleoclimatic data assimilation and Earth system modelling, vegetation–climate interactions and ecosystem demography, or land use and land cover change and its effects on regional climate
- Experience of developing or applying numerical models of the Earth system, vegetation, or atmosphere
- Proficiency in scientific programming (for example Python, Julia, or Fortran) and in the analysis of large gridded datasets
- A record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage, including first-author papers
Contact details for advert
Contact Name Dr Akash Koppa
Job Title Lecturer
Email address [email protected]
We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.
The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.
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