Research Associate: Atmospheric Chemistry Modelling of Soil Microbial Processes

Role Description

Introduction

Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) play a central role in the chemistry controlling both climate and air pollution. Understanding NOx emissions both now and into the future is therefore essential if we are to tackle major environmental challenges. Recent studies have suggested that heavily fertilised agricultural soils could now be a major source of NOx, but current emissions inventories appear to vastly underestimate these emissions. As part of a recently funded project bringing together experts in biogeochemistry and atmospheric chemistry, this position will use the most comprehensive dataset to-date on the drivers of soil NOx production to develop a process-based model parameterisation of these emissions. 

Role

The biogeochemical dependence of soil NOx emissions means they vary nonlinearly with region-specific agricultural management, soil conditions, and meteorology. These relationships are not currently well represented in models due in part to a lack of data capable of constraining the representation of complex soil nitrification and denitrification processes. This project aims to use existing and new data in combination with novel measurement techniques and extensive experiments to advance our process-based understanding of these complex processes. The successful applicant will use existing models of soil biogeochemical processes with existing data investigating the biogeochemical controls on reactive nitrogen emissions from agricultural soils, across a range of wheat varieties and nitrogen amendment treatments, to identify critical model failures. The model failures identified will then direct targeted experiments at the Warwick Crop Centre, including NOx isotopic signatures, to provide data capable of improving model representations. This iterative process of testing model improvements against specifically designed experiments will enable the development of a soil NOx emission parameterisation that meets the needs of global emission inventories and environmental policy.

The successful applicant will have experience of working with biogeochemical models and/or atmospheric chemistry models and have advanced computer programming skills. The post will be located in the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories at the University of York, and will work closely with biogeochemists in the Environmental Process Laboratory at the University of Warwick. The highly interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of this project means experience of working across multiple research groups is highly desirable, and the ability to engage with biogeochemists and interpret experimental soil datasets would be an advantage.  York is one of the UK's leading Chemistry departments and renowned internationally for research. We have been recognised consistently for our family-friendly policies and are proud of our Athena SWAN Gold Award

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The post is available from 1st October 2026 until 31st July 2029, with possibility of extension

Interview date: To be confirmed 

For informal enquiries: please contact Jenny Hudson-bell on jenny.hudson-bell@york.ac.uk

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We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

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