Research Fellow in Modelled Forest-Climate Interactions

Job Description:

Overview of the role

This role will be based on the university campus with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Interviews are expected to be held on 19th June 2026 (due to limited availability of the panel, we are unlikely to accommodate alternative dates). Successful candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation on their research experience and why they are a good fit for the role.

Do you have a strong background in climate or atmospheric modelling? Do you have a proven track record developing international research collaborations? We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed researcher to identify how tropical forests can contribute to climate change adaptation.

Finding solutions to climate change is urgent and essential for the future of humanity. Tropical forests have the potential to contribute to climate change adaptation, but there are crucial knowledge gaps on how intact and regenerating forests interact with climate and how well these processes are represented in global climate models. Existing models struggle to capture the complexity of tropical forest-climate interactions, limiting our ability to reliably predict the climate impacts of future land-use change, including tropical reforestation scenarios.

This role is an exciting opportunity to transform our understanding of tropical forests in the climate system and deliver science that will directly impact international land-use policy. You will build a pan-tropical research network and co-develop methods with project partners to develop the UK Earth System Model (UKESM). You will apply process-based evaluation tools to global and regional convection-permitting simulations to produce the first detailed evaluation of forest-climate interactions. You will deliver updated regional climate projections based on the improved UKESM and bespoke land-use scenarios. Your work will directly inform international policies on how future land use can support climate resilience.

You will have (or be close to obtaining) a relevant PhD and have expertise in an area of Climate or Environmental Science. You will have experience of collaborating with a wide range of tropical forest stakeholders and demonstrate commitment to publication of original results at an international level. Working within a vibrant and internationally recognised research team, the project offers generous opportunities to travel and work alongside international experts in the field, to participate in international climate change conferences, to receive highly-specialised training to grow your technical research skills, and will provide an excellent springboard for a thriving research career.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertaking original research into forest-climate interactions and analysing and evaluating representation of these processes in global UKESM;
• Running new convection-permitting simulations over three tropical domains and analysing model representation of land-atmosphere feedbacks;
• Producing updated projections of regional climate change over the next century based on improved UKESM and novel land-use scenarios;
• Developing productive international research collaborations through meaningful engagement with tropical partner countries (Brazil, Tanzania and Indonesia) in line with the University of Leeds’ decolonising framework;
• Preparing papers for publication in leading international journals and independently writing reports;
• Disseminating research results widely through project meetings, national and international conferences and policy engagement activities;
• Evaluating methods and results of other researchers and relating such evaluations appropriately to your own work;
• Working both independently and also as part of a larger team of researchers, engaging in knowledge-transfer activities where appropriate and feasible;
• Maintaining your own continuing professional development and contributing to the training and mentoring of less experienced colleagues as appropriate;
• Contributing to the research culture of the Biosphere Atmosphere Group and the wider School community, where appropriate.
• Using your initiative to identify new areas for research, develop new research objectives and methods, and extend the research as dictated by initial results;
• Where appropriate prepare proposals for funding in collaboration with colleagues;
• Contributing to the training of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, where appropriate, including assisting with the supervision of projects in areas relevant to the project.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

Visa Eligibility

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Jess Baker, Associate Professor

Email: [email protected] (Please include the reference 'CRAFTPDRA' in the subject line)

Closing Date: 10 Jun 2026

Section: Academic

Salary: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum