Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

Overview

The University of Exeter is offering a full-time, fixed-term Postdoctoral Research Associate or Postdoctoral Research Fellow position within the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. The role is based at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall, United Kingdom, and is funded by UKDI. The appointment runs from 01 January 2027 to 31 December 2027. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the UK Met Office and Oshen to develop a novel, observation-based machine learning ocean forecasting system. Responsibilities include implementing uncertainty propagation techniques in Python, developing adaptive spatial sampling algorithms, and verifying the framework using synthetic ocean data, MEOP-CTD datasets, and autonomous vessel deployments alongside Dr Ajit Pillai and Dr Ian Ashton.

What you get

The position offers a salary ranging from £35,302 to £44,352 per annum, with the starting rate beginning at £35,302 on Grade E for the Postdoctoral Research Associate level and £44,352 on Grade F for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow level, determined by relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.

Requirements

Applicants for the Postdoctoral Research Associate level must hold a relevant PhD or nearing completion, or possess equivalent qualifications or experience in oceanography, machine learning, statistics, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. Candidates must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of research methods and techniques, and the ability to communicate complex information and present research progress. Applicants for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow level must also possess a relevant PhD or equivalent experience in a related field, along with advanced expertise in uncertainty quantification and propagation, proven experience in validating complex computational models against real-world observational data, and a track record of delivering open-source codebases or reproducible scientific software. Additional background screening may apply to this role.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 10 December 2026. The post is available starting on 01 January 2027.