Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have a background in hydrology, climate information or the co-production of climate services? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a researcher to conduct research on the co-development of climate information products for water managers in China, and user evaluation of the products being developed. This position is funded by the UK Met Office’s Climate Science for Services Partnership China (CSSP China) programme on behalf of the Newton Fund. The research project aims to co-design and co-develop (between climate service providers, climate scientists, and water managers and intermediaries) climate information prototypes or products to meet the needs of water managers in China, using long-term climate projections. The geographical coverage of this project include the Yellow and Yangtze River basins, and the South-North Water Transfer Project.

This post is based in Leeds and will involve coordinating and developing activities (and work plans) to engage the stakeholders (such as climate service providers, climate scientists, and water managers and intermediaries) in China (and the UK) to develop climate information products for China’s water sector. Tasks will include (but not limited to) coordinating the stakeholders to co-design the climate service product, managing the development of the climate service products, conducting end-user testing sessions, collecting and analysing users’ feedback (e.g. via surveys, workshops), producing prototypes of final products and relevant documentations. All these tasks aim to actively engage climate service providers, climate scientists and water managers and intermediaries to co-design, co-develop and co-assess the usability of the climate information prototypes or products being developed for water managers in China.

If COVID-19 travel restrictions ease and international business travel is allowed by the University, you will be required to participate in a number of research visits/fieldwork in China, and we anticipate each visit will be between one and three weeks in duration. Otherwise, they will be conducted through a variety of methods (e.g. online, email, phone).

Additionally, you will work in close collaboration with the project partners in China (e.g. Prof. Buda Su from China Meteorological Administration, Prof. Tong Jiang from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology) and the UK Met Office (e.g. Dr. John Rostrom) as well as interaction and engagement with other CSSP China projects, and, if applicable, external organisations and interested parties.

The post-holder will be under the supervision of the project team (Dr. Yim Ling Siu (PI), Prof. Suraje Dessai (Co-I) and Dr. Andrea Taylor (Co-I)). You will be based at the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) of School of Earth & Environment. There will be opportunities to interact with the Climate Change Adaptation, Vulnerability and Services (CCAVS) Group at SRI, the Priestley International Centre for Climate and the Participatory Action Research and Co-production group at Leeds Social Sciences Institute.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr Yim Ling Siu, Lecturer in Environmental Risk Management 

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 6717, email: Y.L.Siu@leeds.ac.uk 

Location: Leeds - Main Campus
Faculty/Service: Faculty of Environment
School/Institute: School of Earth and Environment
Category: Research
Grade: Grade 7
Salary: £33,797 to £40,322 p.a. Due to funding restrictions, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer above £38,017 p.a.
Working Time: 100% - We will consider job share / flexible working arrangements
Post Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (until 31 March 2021)
Closing Date: Friday 04 September 2020
Reference: ENVEE1415
Downloads: Candidate Brief