THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
SCHOOLS OF GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCES

RESEARCH FELLOW - GLACIER GEOPHYSICS (12 months preferably from January 
1st 2004)TEMPORARY TEACHING FELLOWSHIP (8 months from 1st September 
2004)or COMBINED POST (20 months preferably from January 1st 2004)

The Schools wish to appoint a Research Fellow to a one year post on 
"Effect of the spatial variability of physical parameters on the 
rheology oftemperate glaciers and their modelled response to climate 
change" as well as or in combination with, a Teaching Fellow. The 
component of the research undertaken at Leeds will be borehole and 
surface ground-penetrating radar, developing methods for processing 
these data, as well as laboratory measurement of the radar properties of 
glacier ice. One or more field seasons in the Swiss Alps are 
anticipated. The successful candidate will have a PhD in geophysics or 
glaciology and will have good oral and written communiciation skills.

Salary on the scale for Research 1A (£18,265 - £27,339) according to
qualifications and relevant experience or for the Teaching Fellowship 
only Other Related 1/2 (£18,265-£27,339).

It is likely that preference would be given to a combined appointment.

Informal enquiries on the Research Fellowship (or research component) to 
Dr Tavi Murray (email: [log in to unmask]; 0113 343 6753) and Dr 
Jared West (email: [log in to unmask]; 0113 343 5253). Information 
on the Schools can be found on the World Wide Web at 
http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/ and http://earth.leeds.ac.uk; informal 
enquires on Teaching Fellow (or teaching component) to Dr Adrian Bailey 
(email: [log in to unmask]; 0113 343 3322).

Application forms and further particulars for these posts may be 
obtained from Jo Shorrocks, School of Geography, The University of 
Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT (0113 233 3311), email [log in to unmask] 
World Wide Web address: http://www.leeds.ac.uk./jobadverts/   Reference no

Closing date for applications is 14th November 2003; we envisage
interviewing for the post on Friday 28 November 2003.

The University of Leeds promotes an equal opportunities policy.


School of Geography
University of Leeds

Post: Research Fellow in glacier geophysics, post available for 12 
months preferably from 1 January / 1 February 2004 and Teaching Fellow, 
post available for 8 months from 1 September 2004 or Comined post 
available for 20 months preferably from 1 January / 1 February 2004

Project title: Effect of the spatial variability of physical parameters 
on the rheology of temperate glaciers and their modelled response to 
climate change

Relationships
Responsible to: Chairs, Schools of Geography and Earth Sciences
Reports to: Drs Tavi Murray and Jared West

Further particulars:

Overview of project:
Thinning of the world's ice masses has contributed significantly to sea
level rise over the last century and is likely to have a much more
significant impact on sea level in the future.  Hence, a key challenge 
is to predict the manner in which ice masses will respond to climate 
change, using dynamic models.  These models require detailed knowledge 
of glacier mechanical properties, which depend on unfrozen water 
content, unfrozen water distribution, and ice crystal size and shape. 
Water content at the grain scale is particularly important to 
determination of flow characteristics for large bodies of ice.  Water 
content and distribution is also the strongest influence on the velocity 
of electromagnetic (radar) waves in ice.  The aim of the University of 
Leeds component of this project is to improve our ability to interpret 
of radar to give ice properties such as liquid water content, crystal 
size, shape, and orientation.  This will be achieved by comparing 
surface and cross borehole radar data from glaciers with detailed 
characterisation of ice cores.  Ice core characterisation will involve 
determination of the relationship between radar velocity measured in the 
laboratory using Time Domain Reflectometry, and physical characteristics 
such as water content measured microscopically.  This will result in 
quantified interpretation of radar data, which will be used by the 
project partners to produce improved models of ice sheets movement and 
glacial water systems.


Main duties and responsibilities of the post:

The Research Fellow will undertake the majority of the processing of
borehole and surface ground-penetrating radar data  together with
development of processing strategies and inversion / forward modelling
routines (approximately 8 months). He/she will also undertake laboratory
measurement of radar properties of glacier ice (approximately 2 months).
The research fellow will also participate and help organise one or two
field campaigns in the Swiss Alps (each field season ~3-4 weeks long). 
This research will be undertaken in liaison with the Principal 
Investigators and collaborators (from Bristol, Aberystwyth, University 
of Waterloo, Canada and Queen's University Belfast).

The research will involve:
· Review and identification of suitable processing strategies;
· Collecting ground-penetrating radar data in the field, fieldwork 
planning and logistics;
· Processing borehole and surface data in collaboration with project
partners at Leeds and elsewhere;
· Design / modification of laboratory apparatus, liaison with 
technicians building said apparatus, undertaking laboratory tests on 
glacier ice;
· Application and improvement of current mixture models for interpreting
radar propagation velocities;
· Dissemination of results to project partners at conferences and 
through the submission of papers to academic journals.

The Teaching Fellow will undertake teaching to replace that of Dr Tavi
Murray during 2004-5. This teaching will largely be undertaken in 
semester 1 2004 (September - December 2004). If a combined fellow is 
appointed some duties may fall outside this period. Some substitution to 
the following courses with equivalent weighting may occur depending on 
the interests and experience of the fellow. Notes and powerpoint lecture 
slides can be provided for most of these courses.
· A contribution to a 1st year module, probably covering introductory
glaciology
· A 20 credit module at 2nd year level "Glacial and Periglacial
Environments", or equivalent replacement module
· 1st or 2nd year field class, probably to Bangor or Alps
· 1st and 2nd year tutorials in Earth Surface Processes (combined Earth
Sciences / Geography programme)

The Combined Fellow would undertake the duties of both the Research 
Fellow and the Teaching Fellow detailed above.

Objectives of the post:
· Review and identification of suitable processing strategies to combine
borehole and surface ground-penetrating radar data, specifically looking 
at techniques developed for seismic processing;
· Collecting ground-penetrating radar data in the field together with 
PIs and postgraduate students, fieldwork planning and logistics for 
field seasons in the Swiss Alps;
· Processing borehole and surface data in collaboration with project
partners at Leeds and elsewhere;
· Design / modification of laboratory apparatus to make measurements on
core material from glacier ice, liaison with technicians building said
apparatus, undertaking laboratory tests on glacier ice;
· Application and improvement of current mixture models for interpreting
radar propagation velocities in conjunction with project partners from
Waterloo in Canada in particular;
· Dissemination of results to project partners at conferences and 
through the submission of papers to academic journals.


Person Specification

Essential for research or combined post
· PhD (or near to completion) in geophysics, earth or environmental
sciences or glaciology
· Good oral and written communication skills
· Ability to work in a small team
· Fieldwork experience or a willingness to undertake fieldwork in 
glaciated or mountainous environments

Essential for teaching or combined post
· First degree and PhD (or near to completion)
· Teaching and assessment skills sufficient to teach/interact with 
students at all levels
· Personal communication skills
· Computer literate

Desirable for research or combined post
· Experience in processing ground-penetrating radar or reflection /
refraction seismic data
· Experience of linux or unix operating systems
· Programming experience in MATLAB
· Experience in laboratory measurement of physical properties
· Ability to ski
· Experience in organising field expeditions
· Knowledge of petrol / diesel engines
· Driving licence

Desirable for teaching or combined post
· Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Salary R1A or OR1/2 scales, both £18,265-2733 depending on age and 
experience

Closing date for applications: 14th November 2003; we envisage interviewing
for the post on Friday 28 November.
  Further information

Further details of the research interests of the staff and also information
about the Schools can be found at http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk and
http://earth.leeds.ac.uk. Informal enquiries about the post should be
addressed to Drs Tavi Murray ([log in to unmask]; Tel. 0113 343
6753) and Jared West ([log in to unmask]; Tel. 0113 343 5253)

Disabled applicants

This post is located in the Schools of Geography and Earth Sciences 
within the main campus and in field locations in the Swiss Alps.  The 
University of Leeds buildings are fully accessible.  Disability Services 
(tel: 0113 233 3927) can provide advice if required.

Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their 
disability but will still be covered by the Disability Discrimination 
Act once their disability becomes known.