About the role

We are looking for a Research Associate to join us here at the University of Bath, working on an exciting project in Space Weather.

Space Weather is a complex area that reaches across solar, magnetosphere and ionospheric research areas. 

The equatorial ionosphere is a region of interesting physics where the electrodynamics controls variations in the ionosphere in conjunction with thermospheric changes. The African ionosphere is a region of significant scientific interest.

This project is a collaboration between the University of Bath and the Technical University of Kenya. The research associate will be based at the University of Bath, and there will be opportunities for hosting researchers from and visiting the partner institutions.

The job purpose is:

• To study ionospheric irregularities over Africa.
• To collaborate with the Kenyan University partner in ionospheric data analysis.
• To support the Kenyan University partner in educational workshops

Main duties will include:

• Conducting collaborative research within this project
• Contributing to the delivery of the project
• Participation in discussions and workshops with the project partner
• Delivering presentations/seminars to the project team
• Conducting research into the ionosphere over Africa
• Writing up the results of research and contributing to the publication of results

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD degree or are close to completing their PhD in the ionosphere, or any other area of direct relevance to the project
• Experience in teaching/lab demonstrating
• Familiarity with ionospheric data analysis, such as GNSS data
• Familiarity with ionospheric radio science
• Demonstrated potential to publish in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals

Further information

This position is offered on a full time (36.5 hours per week) 12 month fixed term basis from 01 May 2026 to 30 April 2027.

For an informal conversation about the position, please contact Professor Cathryn Mitchell on eescnm@bath.ac.uk or Dr. Biagio Forte on bf263@bath.ac.uk

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded. 

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff. 

What we can offer you

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace 
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

Find out more about our benefits and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work as well as following us X and LinkedIn.

 

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Further details:

• Job Description & Person Specification