Research Fellow in Geosolutions: Subsurface Imaging and Uncertainty for Georesources - ENVEE1842
| Posting date: | 02 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,064 to £48,822 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 October 2025 |
| Location: | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Leeds |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | ENVEE1842 |
Summary
Research Fellow in Geosolutions: Subsurface Imaging and Uncertainty for Georesources
This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.
Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in geophysics and want to apply your skills to solve challenges using sustainable georesources? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive universities?
We are seeking a Research Fellow to fulfil a key role in our project to better understand how to build geophysical models of the subsurface which account for the uncertainty in current geophysical data, in order to assess the potential for sustainable energy production and resource use. You will be a key part of the Geosolutions Centre within the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds and work closely with Dr Andy Nowacki. You will be part of a large interdisciplinary team of other PDRAs, PhDs and academic staff, and will collaborate closely with others in the University and elsewhere. You will work to address the challenges of climate change through understanding and using the solid Earth, including as part of the University’s Climate Plan.
You will research, use and build on existing methods to take data about the subsurface (seismic surveys, borehole data, geological mapping and other data) and produce estimates of the physical properties of the subsurface, and crucially, the associated uncertainty on those estimates. Initially, you will focus on geothermal resources in Iceland (Hengill) and Ethiopia (Aluto and Corbetti) using existing seismic data, building on provisional models. Next you will investigate how to incorporate magnetotelluric and other data, and you will appraise different approaches to properly testing hypotheses of subsurface processes. You will be responsible for leading the development of the approach, which could include transferring learning from other geographic regions and data types, machine learning methods, Bayesian inference and interrogation theory. The post may involve travel to Iceland and Italy in support of your work and attendance at international conferences, such as the European Geothermal Congress.
You will have a PhD, or be near to completing a PhD, in geophysics, geostatistics, physics, applied mathematics or a similar discipline with a strong background in data analysis or imaging as applied to the Earth. You will also have the ability to conduct independent research and evidence of peer-reviewed publications in international journals. In addition, you will have excellent communication, planning, and team working skills.
Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent
What we offer in return
· 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
· Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
· Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
· Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
· Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
And much more!
If you are looking for the chance to use your skills to help discover and develop geothermal resources, apply today.
This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.
Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in geophysics and want to apply your skills to solve challenges using sustainable georesources? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive universities?
We are seeking a Research Fellow to fulfil a key role in our project to better understand how to build geophysical models of the subsurface which account for the uncertainty in current geophysical data, in order to assess the potential for sustainable energy production and resource use. You will be a key part of the Geosolutions Centre within the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds and work closely with Dr Andy Nowacki. You will be part of a large interdisciplinary team of other PDRAs, PhDs and academic staff, and will collaborate closely with others in the University and elsewhere. You will work to address the challenges of climate change through understanding and using the solid Earth, including as part of the University’s Climate Plan.
You will research, use and build on existing methods to take data about the subsurface (seismic surveys, borehole data, geological mapping and other data) and produce estimates of the physical properties of the subsurface, and crucially, the associated uncertainty on those estimates. Initially, you will focus on geothermal resources in Iceland (Hengill) and Ethiopia (Aluto and Corbetti) using existing seismic data, building on provisional models. Next you will investigate how to incorporate magnetotelluric and other data, and you will appraise different approaches to properly testing hypotheses of subsurface processes. You will be responsible for leading the development of the approach, which could include transferring learning from other geographic regions and data types, machine learning methods, Bayesian inference and interrogation theory. The post may involve travel to Iceland and Italy in support of your work and attendance at international conferences, such as the European Geothermal Congress.
You will have a PhD, or be near to completing a PhD, in geophysics, geostatistics, physics, applied mathematics or a similar discipline with a strong background in data analysis or imaging as applied to the Earth. You will also have the ability to conduct independent research and evidence of peer-reviewed publications in international journals. In addition, you will have excellent communication, planning, and team working skills.
Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent
What we offer in return
· 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
· Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
· Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
· Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
· Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
And much more!
If you are looking for the chance to use your skills to help discover and develop geothermal resources, apply today.