High Resolution Ice Ocean Modeller

British Antarctic Survey

BAS 26/30

Contract type FTA (30 months)

Location Cambridge

Salary Band D S2 - £42,688

Closing date 17/03/2026

Interview date 21-23 April

Background/Overview:

Purpose:

We are seeking a High-Resolution Ice-Ocean Modeller to develop improved parameterisations of ice shelf basal melting in the Amundsen Sea. A major source of uncertainty in 21st-century projections of mass loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet is the treatment of ocean-driven basal melting. Ice sheet models typically employ crude parameterisations of this process, while full 3D ocean simulations are too expensive for long-term projections or large ensembles. Bridging this gap is a major challenge for the ice ocean modelling community.

In this post, you will run very high resolution simulations with the MITgcm ocean model in the Amundsen Sea region. The output will be used to develop an optimal calculation of basal melt rates based only on ice shelf geometry and far field ocean conditions, the quantities known to ice sheet models. The resulting parameterisation will be both accurate and inexpensive, and will be used within ice sheet models to reduce uncertainty in sea level rise projections. 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 BISTO project (Better Ice Sheet forecasts via Transient assimilation and refined Ocean forcing), in collaboration with ice sheet modellers at the University of Edinburgh and Dartmouth College. 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, Subsurface Warming 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:

• Develop very high resolution (e.g. metre) configurations of the MITgcm ocean model over the eastern Amundsen Sea and ice shelf cavities
• Collaborate with team members at BAS and the University of Edinburgh to force these models with the latest simulated ocean boundary conditions and ice geometries
• Identify, evaluate, and train optimal parameterisations of basal melting suitable for forcing stand alone ice sheet model forecasts
• Create parameterisations of small scale melting processes (e.g. near ice shelf grounding lines) for use in coupled ocean-ice sheet model forecasts
• 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.