Scientist - Climate Change

Job summary

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research (FR) is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry professionals, land managers and anyone with green space, UK wide. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and seeking ways to safeguard those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide robust data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this utilising the latest technology while working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

The Climate Change Research Group has 30 researchers working on a variety of climate change-related projects. These include measuring woodland carbon and greenhouse gas balances, assessing the role of forestry in emissions mitigation and net zero targets, quantifying risks and impacts and improving adaptation across the forestry sector, and economic appraisal and assessments. Our work involves field measurements (using the opportunity of close work with the public forest estate in the UK), reviews, empirical and process-based modelling. Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

Job description

Working within the Climate Change Research Group the primary tasks of this role will be to develop climate responsive modelling capabilities to assess climate risks (drought, fire), deploying bayesian calibration and model emulation techniques. Working alongside wind risk modellers, economists and decision support tool developers, the post-holder will work to deliver against DEFRA priorities for climate risk quantification to UK forests. In addition, part of the candidate’s portfolio will be working on modelling the climate benefits of forest-to-bog restoration.

The work delivers directly to policy and practitioner needs, enabling scenarios of the long-term impact of forest structural diversification to primary abiotic risks (drought and wildfire), and will contribute to a roadmap for the inclusion of biotic pests in risk proliferation for UK forestry under climate change.
The role will involve managing delivery of work packages, collaborating internally and contributing to new funding bids, whilst delivering to and liaising with key external clients and maintaining and growing collaborations with external research partners.

The role will contribute to our work on improving our understanding of the role of forestry in climate change mitigation and the impact of multiple risks to forest and woodland. It will play a key part in Forest Research’s input into collaborative projects, methods, models and tools to support policymakers and practitioners in taking action to protect and manage forest and woodland from climate change risks. The role will support the work of the group to minimise risks from climate change to ensure they can continue to deliver key ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation.

The post-holder will be expected to bid for and/or support new research projects to secure research income and pursue opportunities to develop new collaborations with external researchers including universities and with student research projects (subject to funding success). The role will have project management, delivery and budgetary responsibilities.

The post will contribute to developing research to better understand mitigation of climate change risks. The post-holder will work with colleagues across the Climate Change Research Group in Forest Research and project partners to:

• better understand and further analyse the risks (focus on drought and wildfire) from the changing climate on trees, woodlands and forests
• contribute to the continuing development of decision support tools and model integration framework delivery relating to the carbon sequestration and climate resilience of forests and woodland in a changing climate
• better manage risks in support of optimal forest management decision making.

The post-holder will be responsible for research, project management, science deliverables, and writing outputs (in a range of styles). These include research proposals, journal papers, internal and external reports and case studies. The role will include communications, knowledge exchange and research into climate change mitigation. The post-holder will encourage better awareness of and response to guidance changes in forestry practice and management to address future climate threats, land use and its change.

Key Work Areas

• Work with colleagues and project partners to further understand the relationships with climate change risks, adaptation measures, analysis methods and decision support tools. These will be relating to the carbon mitigation potential and resilience of forest and woodland in a changing climate.
• Analyse project results and develop ideas, plans and initial findings with collaborators, funders, and other experts.
• Manage work programmes across several projects, including carrying out work-package budget responsibilities, task prioritisation and progress reporting and monitoring.
• Lead and manage defined projects and areas of work in collaboration with project partners and funders, such as universities, government bodies and conservation charities.
• Contribute to external funding applications.
• Use R programming to carry out data analysis independently and as part of a team, with strong quality assurance approaches.
• Disseminate findings and publicise research activity by summarising and presenting work via scientific publications, conferences, workshops, and seminars, as opportunities arise.
• Build a strong network of connections with customers and collaborators within and outside the UK.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Postgraduate degree in data, environmental, engineering, or mathematical science
• Proficient R user
• Good working knowledge and proven track record of mechanistic modelling
• Experience of climate responsive forest modelling, climate change mitigation from trees, forest and woodland
• Experience of engagement on climate change mitigation at the science, policy, practice interface
• Experience of applying Data Quality Assurance standards
• Competent user of large datasets, both vector and raster data
• Excellent organisational, data handling and record keeping skills
• Demonstrable relevant experience in modelling in research environment
• Track record of peer review publication and contribution to bid development

Occasional travel might be required on an ad-hoc basis with overnight stays up to 10 days a year.

Desirable Criteria:

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

• Demonstrable experience of working with climate projections or other probabilistic ‘big data’
• Direct experience in forest science would be advantageous
• Experience of applying Data Quality Assurance standards
• Experience of engaging in knowledge exchange with impact

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: