Digital Twin Scientist

DIGITAL TWINS FOR AGROECOSYSTEMS – DIGITAL TWIN SCIENTIST (post-doctoral)

The Alan Turing Institute have funded a programme of work which will be delivered by members of the Intelligent Data Ecosystems (IDE) and Net Zero Resilient Farming (NZRF) directorates at Rothamsted Research. The programme involves the set up and long-term running of Digital Twins (DTs) for Agriculture (DT-AG). It sits within a much larger ATI research programme termed the “Environment and Sustainability Grand Challenge” (https://www.turing.ac.uk/research/environment-and-sustainability). A DT is a virtual replica of a physical process or system that is dynamically updated using data collected from real-time (or right-time) monitoring of its physical counterpart. Although they originated in the engineering sciences, DTs are starting to be used to successfully approach a wide range of complex scientific and social problems, including in healthcare, environmental monitoring, urban analytics, and economics. Named in honour of Alan Turing, the Institute is a place for inspiring, exciting work passionate, sharp, and innovative people use their skills to contribute to their mission to make great leaps in data science and AI research to change the world for the better. Rothamsted Research has a commitment to research pathways to productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture.

BACKGROUND

IDE at Rothamsted is a digitally diverse team with responsibility to drive multi-faceted programmes of continual digital transformation initiatives as well as supporting business as usual activities. It has core expertise in statistics, data systems, bioinformatics, and IT. NZRF at Rothamsted is similarly interdisciplinary, consisting of soil, livestock, crop, GHG emissions and water emissions scientists with the aim of researching resilient and sustainable agroecosystems across a range of scales. NZRF hosts a vibrant agroecosystem data and modelling teams, together with the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP) experimental site. The NWFP is a globally unique 4-farm experiment that has captured key farm-scale processes (on productively, soils, emission, biodiversity, etc.) since 2010 via various sensing technologies, where, to date, over 80 million measurements have been processed (https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/north-wyke-farm-platform). The NWFP’s rich datasets will underpin the DT-AG programme, where the aim is to provide a virtual NWFP of its real counterpart. The programme of work will move beyond the NWFP to provide out-scaling initiatives, allowing a wide range of stakeholders to interact with DT-AG’s expected industry relevant DT-based decision support platform at a range of spatial and temporal scales. DT-AGs platform will facilitate timely and scale-aware decision making for sustainable land management in the context of increasingly complex challenges to the UK’s agricultural landscape posed by climate change.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

This post-doctoral role is responsible, as part of the existing DT-AG team, for supporting the statistical, machine and deep learning component of the DT-AG programme. The post holder will have state-of-the-art skills in programming/scripting (e.g., python, R), statistical modelling, machine and deep learning, visualisation, and uncertainty quantification applied to spatio-temporal agroecosystem processes across a range of scales. The successful candidate will interact and be supported by DT-AG process-based modellers, DT-AG research software engineers and the DT-AG management team, together with exposure to complementary DT projects at the Alan Turing Institute and Rothamsted Research. Time will be given to maintain and update the post holder’s skills base at the leading edge of DT-based research via built in training opportunities. You will have a PhD in an appropriate scientific, technical, or engineering discipline, where knowledge of agroecosystem science is desirable, but not essential.

CONTRACT TERM

This post is offered on a fixed term basis for 20 months, starting April 2024 ending January 2026. Extensions are likely subject to further funding.

The role can be based at the Harpenden (Hertfordshire) or the North Wyke (Devon) campus of Rothamsted Research. As the focus of the project impact will be at North Wyke, flexibility to travel to Devon at short notice will be required, if Harpenden-based. A hybrid working option, part office, part home working can be considered for this role. Informal enquiries to chris.baker@rothamsted.ac.uk or paul.harris@rothamsted.ac.uk

Closing date: Monday 11 March 2024

Interviews (preliminary): Monday 18 March to Friday 22 March

Start date: Monday 29 April 2024 (or as close to thereafter)

About The Company

Established in 1843, Rothamsted Research is one of the UK's leading Research Institutes delivering world class agricultural science.  Our commitment to learning and development, equality, diversity and inclusion and flexibility in working arrangements creates a positive work life balance and enables a welcoming environment for all prospective employees. 

As a Disability Confident Employer we are committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process and all disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.   If this is required, please contact us.  Applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or age are welcomed, providing the required criteria is met. 

We have an attractive benefits package including 30 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and an attractive campus offering cultural and recreational activities.