As part of a new multi-million-euro academic research programme at UCD funded by Met Éireann (the Irish National Meteorological Service) to support the further development of weather and climate services for Ireland using data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI), UCD is seeking to appoint a Full Professor of Data Science for Weather and Climate.

This exciting new senior academic post is a permanent position in the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics arising from a funding award of €5 million over five years from Met Éireann, with the possibility of further funding of €5 million for an additional five years.

UCD is seeking to recruit an internationally recognised and globally impactful interdisciplinary researcher at the cutting edge of research at the interface of AI/Machine Learning (ML) and their application to natural sciences, including Earth system science. The Full Professor will build an internationally recognised research team, and will establish a PhD cohort-training programme and a Data Science for Weather and Climate Research Centre at UCD. The new Professor will also inform and shape policy nationally and at European and broader international levels.

The UCD research programme funded by Met Éireann will strive to bridge the gap between research and operations by conducting cutting-edge, user-oriented studies in the context of high impact weather, flood forecasting and the understanding of our climate, and using knowledge gained to train the next generation of scientists and engineers. The research and development of AI models and techniques will enable Met Éireann to build on existing state-of-the-art forecasting capabilities, while developing skill levels to further enhance national capabilities and capacity in weather, climate and hydrology.

Professor Nial Friel, Head of the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics, stated, “The appointment of a Full Professor of Data Science for Weather and Climate will take UCD’s relationship with Met Éireann to the next level by enhancing our capacity to develop AI-enhanced models to enable Met Éireann to build on its forecasting capabilities and make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared.”

“The ground-breaking research programme between UCD and Met Éireann will help produce the next generation of climate and weather scientists and help ensure that we have the tools and expertise needed to tackle the growing climate emergency.”

Further information (including application procedure) can be found at: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/ (Reference Number 017000).

Closing date: 17:00 (local Irish time) on 1st April 2024.