Postdoctoral Researcher – UrbaNE: Urban Numerical weather prediction Expedited

2 weeks ago

Reading, United Kingdom University of Reading Full time

To undertake research within the URBANE (Urban Numerical Weather Prediction Expedited) project. This project focuses on services and forecasts for people and infrastructure in urban environments, supporting both ECMWF and the Met Office in their drives towards better representation of urban environments within numerical weather prediction (NWP) and climate models. The key contribution of this project will be evaluating urban NWP with observations, taking better advantage of high resolution thermal remote sensing), field campaign data and radiative transfer modelling.


Full time, fixed term post for 5 years


By enhancing our capabilities in global data assimilation, simulation and analysis, AFESP will deliver a new class of accurate, reliable and usable forecasts, aiming to re-define the medium-range predictability limit from two to at least four weeks, enabling a wide range of new scientific and societal applications. Within that, URBANE focuses on services and forecasts for people and infrastructure in urban environments, to improve services supporting health, infrastructure risk, and climate-change resilience. This requires representing urban environments better and at appropriate scales within models. The key contribution will be evaluating urban NWP with observations.


Main duties and responsibilities

Working with ECMWF, Met Office, NCEO, ERC urbisphere and NERC ASSURE researchers the candidate will undertake collaborative research and make significant contributions to the following activities:

  • Research on processes and process chains that help increasing skill in the extended NWP range, with a focus on scales at which new observations and state-of-the art numerical simulation are more directly comparable.
  • Develop and test new approaches in numerical simulation that target increased process fidelity, including enhanced resolution, new parametrisations suitable for km-scale, including alternative methods such as machine learning. Prioritise use of unexplored observations, both for verification and as candidates for additional data assimilation.
  • Research on developing new data assimilation techniques that are capable of handling dense data, as well as increased coupling between Earth System components
  • Attend, contribute to, and organise relevant project meetings.
  • Report on progress and results of the research through appropriate methods, including papers for submission to scientific journals, presentation of results at conferences and workshops, etc.
  • Maintain awareness of current progress in relevant research areas to ensure that the research remains at the cutting edge.
  • Liaise with collaborators from other parts of the programme on a regular basis, including travel to visit project partners as required.


URBANE is part of the Advancing the Frontiers of Earth System Prediction (AFESP) research programme, a 15-year investment by the University of Reading, in partnership with ECMWF, Met Office and NCAS. AFESP will deliver tackle some of far-term (1015 year) and difficult (high-risk, high-reward) research challenges in global Earth System prediction.


Closing Date: 6 June 2024

Interview Date: TBC

Informal contact details

Alternative informal contact details

Contact role:

Professor of Urban Meteorology

Contact role:

Professor of Climate System Science & Climate Hazards and Director of University of Reading - ECMWF Research Collaboration

Contact name:

Professor Sue Grimmond

Contact name:

Professor Pier Luigi Vidale

Contact email:

c.s.grimmond@reading.ac.uk

Contact email:

p.l.vidale@reading.ac.uk


Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants should ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement under the PBS. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.


The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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