The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence whose mission is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better.
Satellite sensors can now provide an amazing level of detail of the Earth surface, yet with sparse and imperfect ground-truth sensors to validate them, and due to their relatively short record (a few decades) their usefulness when used on their own is somewhat limited. To make new leaps in understanding environmental change and to improve prediction we must find intelligent ways to combine satellite data with surface sensors and the output from physics-based environmental simulators (e.g., climate models). To bridge these spatial scales and various modalities we are creating a team of scientists and engineers to build and deploy toolkits driven by real-world case studies. This effort will create the foundations for building UK research capacity in developing Digital Twins of the natural environment.
The Alan Turing Institute via the AI for Science and Government (ASG) programme is looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to work with an interdisciplinary team across four institutes to join the large environmental research project entitled “Bridging the spatial scales, from surface sensors to satellite sensors”.
ROLE PURPOSE
The postholder will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of Senior Research Fellows and other PDRAs at the Turing, as well as collaborators at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), and the UK Met Office.
The candidate may be from a scientific or computer science background. Their role will be to create the building blocks for developing Digital Twins of the natural environment, through the deployment of machine learning methods to work with satellite and surface sensors data using flexible, scalable and interpretable computing methods. The project will pay particular attention to uncertainty quantification. In addition, the PDRA will have the opportunity to contribute to an open-source toolkit for generic scientific image analysis, in collaboration with other members of the wider Turing community. These general approaches will enable applications across a range of scientific research domains, such as optical microscopy and the monitoring of wildlife from remote sensing data.
The PDRA will play an active part in all aspects of research from data preparation, to the development of research questions, modelling and analysis, and writing up/publication. Technical meetings will take place between the partner institutions, establishing a robust platform for developing future programmes between environmental science researchers, The Alan Turing Institute and the wider scientific community. This is a collaborative research role and so it is crucial that you enjoy working with others, and are responsive within an interdisciplinary research environment.
You will be expected to work closely with the project leaders, and to:
Other duties
Teaching may be required as part of collaboration work
Person Specification
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV, covering letter and contact details for your referees. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact them on 0203 862 3357 or 0203 862 3340, or email [email protected].
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 12 January 2021 at 23:59.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This full time post is offered on a two year fixed term basis. The start date for this role is immediate and the role holder must be available to start no later than 01 April 2021. The annual salary is £35,000-£41,000 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits
For research positions: Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range £32,000-£34,000 per annum
This job description is written at a specific time and is subject to change as the demands of the Institute and the role develop. The role requires flexibility and adaptability and the post holder needs to be aware that they may be asked to perform tasks and be given responsibilities not detailed in this job description.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability.
Please note all offers of employment are subject to continuous eligibility to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.
Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from [email protected].