Job Opportunity: Research Scientist (Historical Windstorms)
Salary: £36,636 – £46,049 per annum
Closing date: 04/01/2026 at 23:59
Department: School of Mathematical Physical & Computational Sciences
Location: Whiteknights Reading UK
Employment type: AR-Research
Division: Meteorology
Hours Per Week: 1.0FTE
Job live date: 21/11/2025
Employment Basis/Type: Full time, fixed term (up to 36 months)
Interviews will be held: January 2026
We seek a motivated researcher to use a reanalysis system to improve reconstructions of historical windstorms over northern Europe.
Windstorms are one of the most damaging types of extreme weather, but the most severe events happen only rarely. There is a need to improve sampling of past extremes to ensure that current risk estimates are appropriate and reliable.
We now have more of the historical observations required to constrain reanalyses before the satellite era so it is timely to revisit reconstructions of many past extreme events. In partnership with two insurance companies, this project will use the 20th Century Reanalysis system to produce and analyse improved dynamical reconstructions of key European windstorms that occurred before 1950, and even before 1900.
You will have:
- a PhD in physical or mathematical sciences, or expect shortly to obtain this, or equivalent research experience, with a publication record appropriate to experience
- knowledge of climate reanalyses and the dynamics of extreme weather events
- experience of analysing climate reanalyses or similar datasets
- the ability to communicate effectively and to develop and maintain productive collaborations
- excellent analytical, problem solving and programming skills
Apply Now
To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:
Contact Name Prof. Ed Hawkins
Contact Job Title Professor of Climate Science
Contact Email address e.hawkins@reading.ac.uk
Alternative Contact Name Dr Oscar Martinez-Alvorado
Alternative Contact Job Title Senior Research Scientist
Alternative Contact Email address o.martinezalvarado@reading.ac.uk