Description
£41,344 - £45,479the band minimum is the normal starting pay for those new to a role. In exceptional circumstances, when relevant skills and experience can be identified, a higher starting salary may be considered.
We will give full consideration to requests for flexible and part time working, such as reduced hours, compressed hours or job sharing. We also offer hybrid working and recognise the many benefits this brings. The nature of the role will determine if flexible and hybrid working options are possible.
Interview date- Monday 30 th June
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for an exceptionalSpace Weather Scientistto join our Space Weather and Atmosphere team. BAS delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe!
Working at BAS is rewarding.Our skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovationwww.ukri.org
As a valued member of our team, you'll be eligible for the following benefits:
- 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
- Excellent civil service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band)
- 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (EAP - including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues)
- Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure and lifestyle categories and much more.
You'll be joiningour Space Weather and Atmosphere Team to work on our radiation belt forecasts.
You'll helpus to deliver an updated version of our SaRIF radiation belt forecasts. BAS provides these freely available radiation belt forecasts through the ESA Space Weather Portal (seehttps://sarif.space-weather.cloud). The forecasts use data from satellites in geostationary orbit, but the satellite we have been using (GOES-16) was recently decommissioned. The aim of this project is to adapt our forecasting system to use data from a different satellite (either GOES-18 or -19) and to make some other updates to the system.
Within the role,there will be an opportunity to develop your understanding of the Earth's radiation environment and how we model it. The team's weekly seminars and our journal club will broaden your knowledge of space weather and its impacts. Additionally, this role offers a valuable opportunity to significantly expand your IT and software development skills. You will be working with the BAS Radiation Belt Model-a scientific model written in Fortran-that is integrated into a modern cloud computing environment using Amazon Web Services (AWS). This near real-time space weather forecasting system incorporates end-to-end processes including data acquisition, processing, visualization, and web-based dissemination. The use of Python-based web technologies will provide opportunities to enhance your expertise in web development, data visualization, and API integration, supporting the delivery of scalable and accessible scientific tools.
Current projects the teamare working on include a new approach to modelling the Earth's radiation environment, studying the drivers and impacts of ionospheric variability, providing radiation belt forecasts for the UK Met Office, investigating the effects of coupled wave power and plasma properties on radiation dynamics, and understanding the radiation belts at Jupiter and Saturn.
You'll be joining a world-leading interdisciplinary research organisation, that is committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support, you need to thrive at BAS.
Some of your main responsibilities will include:
- Determining whether GOES-18 or GOES-19 data is the most appropriate replacement for GOES-16 data
- Developing and testing code to produce model boundary conditions using data from the chosen satellite
Please download job description for more details.
For the role of Space Weather Scientist, we are looking for somebody who has:
- First degree in physics or closely related subject
- Background in relevant physics. Coding experience with large physical systems and/or data sets
- Understanding of partial differential equations.
Please download job description for more details.
If we've just described you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.
What experiences can we offer you?
At BAS we believe everyone plays a vital role, is unique and valued, therefore, we embrace diversity as well as equality of opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming working environment where everyone's unique perspectives are valued.
Different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That's the power of every individual. Our cultural values are built on mutual respect, inclusion, commitment and excellence.
If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world class and amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you.
If you require the job information in an alternative format (i.e. email, audio or video), or would like any further information or support, please do not hesitate to get in touch at or alternatively you can call us on .
