Space Weather Scientist

Job description

Description
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for a Space Weather Scientist to join its Space Weather and Atmosphere team. BAS delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe!

Working at BAS is rewarding. Our skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org

As a valued member of our team, you'll be eligible for the following benefits:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days

• Excellent civil service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band)

• 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (EAP - including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues)

• Flexible and family friendly working opportunities

• Cycle to work scheme

• Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure and lifestyle categories and much more.

The Space Weather and Atmosphere team currently has 17 members ranging from Ph.D. students to senior scientists. Their research interests include the space radiation environment, plasma waves in space, atmospheric heating and its impact on satellite orbits, interactions between space and the atmosphere and planetary radiation belts. Members of the team also provide 24/7 forecasts of the Earth's radiation belts for satellite operators via an ESA website, and others are involved in the SuperDarn radar network, the EISCAT Association and the AARDDVARK radio receiver consortium.

You'll help us to deliver new modelling capabilities and use these to improve our understanding of the Earth's radiation environment.

Within the role, there will be opportunities to increase your understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere, develop your modelling skills, publish papers, present your work at national and international conferences, and extend your computing experience, including the use of high-performance computing. BAS also offers many personal development opportunities including a training program for researchers, many soft skills courses, and a mentoring scheme.

Some of your main responsibilities will include:

• Characterising the magnetic field variation in realistic field models for incorporation into the PADIE code

• Calculating new diffusion coefficients using the BAS wave database and the PADIE code

• Comparing new diffusion coefficients with those calculated assuming a dipole field

• Writing and publishing research papers in collaboration with other members of the team

Current projects the team are working on include deploying forecasting capabilities to the UK Met Office for both the electron and proton radiation belts; investigating the causes of variability in the Earth's radiation belts; using the EISCAT radars to understand multi-scale coupling in the ionosphere and how it is influenced by space weather; and understanding the roles of convection and diffusion in Saturn's radiation belts.

For the role of Space Weather Scientist, we are looking for somebody who has:

• B.Sc./M.Sc. in physics, mathematics or a closely related subject

• PhD. in physics, mathematics, or a closely related subject

• Published at least 2 first author research papers in peer reviewed journals

• Ability to work in a team under direction

If we've just described you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.

Please download the job description for more details.

What experiences can we offer you?

At BAS we believe everyone plays a vital role, is unique and valued, therefore, we embrace diversity as well as equality of opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming working environment where everyone's unique perspectives are valued.

Different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That's the power of every individual. Our cultural values are built on mutual respect, inclusion, commitment and excellence.