Subsurface Warming Ice Ocean Modeller

British Antarctic Survey

BAS 26/32

Contract typeFTA (30 months)

LocationCambridge

SalaryBand D S2 42688

Closing date17/03/2026

Interview date21-23 April

Background/Overview:

Purpose:

We are seeking a Subsurface Warming Ice-Ocean Modeller to determine the impacts of Southern Ocean subsurface warming on the Antarctic cryosphere. The warmest water around Antarctica is found in the Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) layer a few hundred metres below the surface. This reservoir of heat drives the majority of ice shelf basal melting in West Antarctica and may have also contributed to the recent decline in Antarctic sea ice. Observations show that the CDW core is warming and models project that this warming will continue in response to climate change. However it is unclear exactly how warming of the CDW core will affect Antarctic sea ice and ice shelves compared to the other impacts of climate change (for example increased onshore transport of CDW).

In this post you will run circum-Antarctic perturbation experiments with the NEMO ocean model to quantify the impact of CDW warming in isolation from other changes in the climate system. By analysing the model output you will study the processes by which these offshore CDW changes affect ice shelf basal melting (with a focus on the vulnerable West Antarctic sector) sea ice extent mixed layer processes and continental shelf hydrography. There is plenty of flexibility to shape the research questions to suit your interests within the scope of the project.

Through this post you will contribute to the SO-SIMMER project (Southern Ocean Subsurface heating Ice Melt MEchanisms and Responses) in collaboration with ocean modellers at the National Oceanography Centre the Norwegian Research Centre and the Australian National University. At BAS you will join our Polar Oceans team an internationally renowned group of oceanographers studying high-latitude oceans and their interactions with the cryosphere.

This post is advertised in parallel with three similar roles: Greenland Ice-Ocean Modeller High-resolution Ice-Ocean Modeller and Dense Water Ice-Ocean Modeller. Applicants are encouraged to apply to all four roles which will be combined into a single interview. Please submit identical applications for each role you are interested in; we unfortunately cannot consider you for any roles where you do not apply. Please ensure your cover letter and CV show how you meet the criteria below and include a list of your publications.

Informal enquiries about any of these roles are very welcome and should be directed to Michael Haigh () Paul Holland () or Kaitlin Naughten ().

Duties:

• Adapt an existing circum-Antarctic configuration of the NEMO ocean model to run with idealised perturbations to the ocean conditions and atmospheric fluxes

• Design run and analyse a series of sensitivity simulations to isolate specific processes including CDW warming and shoaling

• Determine the impact of each process in isolation from other changes in the Antarctic climate system on ice shelf basal melting and sea ice loss

• Present scientific results in the peer-reviewed literature and at conferences

Skills Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

Qualifications

• First degree in physical science or mathematics plus PhD or equivalent experience

Practical Skills

• Experience configuring and running ocean models

• Experience analysing ocean model output

Technical Skills

• Experience in the numerical solution of partial differential equations

• Experience with Linux

• Experience with compiled parallel code (e.g. Fortran)

• Experience with interpreted analysis code (e.g. Python)

Communication Skills

• Proficient in written and spoken English

• Strong track record of publication in high-quality journals (assessed relative to career stage and opportunity)

• Excellent scientific writing skills and proven ability to independently write first-author papers

• Track record of presentation at international conferences

Personal Skills

• Proven ability to independently develop research questions (assessed relative to career stage)

• Ability to prioritise tasks to efficiently deliver science

• Ability to adapt research questions as circumstances evolve

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Enthusiasm and drive for independent scientific research

Desirable:

• Experience developing ocean models

• Knowledge of ice-ocean interactions

• Experience with models used in the project

• Experience applying statistical methods

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.