Postdoctoral Research Associate

Fixed term for 13 months from March 2024 or earlier 1 post available The Opportunity: We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in pre-launch science preparations for the French-UK MicroCarb Mission. Broadly, you will conduct pre-launch science activities associated with the MicroCarb mission until the end of the current spending review in March 2025. You will focus on understanding how to use city-scale and global-survey atmospheric CO2 data so you can help develop (and ultimately exploit) MicroCarb data products. This will be achieved using closed-loop experiments and using data being collected by orbiting sensors. You will begin exploring how concurrent measurements of atmospheric CO2 and solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) could be combined to improve estimates of carbon fluxes. Within this period, you will also consider how MicroCarb data will be used by end-users, e.g., inventory compilers. Beyond March 2025, you will help evaluate early-mission MicroCarb CO2 data using established computational models and contribute to calibration and validation activities in the context of the broader French-UK team. Funding beyond March 2025 will be bid for as part of the HMG spending round. UKSA recognise the value of the MicroCarb work and will seek to include funding for related work in its bid. Your skills and attributes for success:  A PhD (or a PhD submitted) in a relevant quantitative scientific discipline.  Experience in developing and running an atmospheric transport model. Experience in interpreting data. Experience with FORTRAN and Python computer languages. Proven ability to work independently and efficiently.