The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Accurate modelling of the solar atmosphere is essential for understanding the energy flow and accumulation that underpin the heating of the solar chromosphere and corona, and for uncovering the mechanisms that drive eruptions and flares. To achieve this, a numerical model must capture the fundamental physical, radiative, and ionisation states of the Sun’s vastly different atmospheric layers, as well as the complex coupling between them.

We have an exciting opportunity to contribute to a high-profile project focused on the development of the Solar Atmospheric Modelling Suite (SAMS) — a next-generation, modular simulation framework for the solar atmosphere. SAMS is being designed to incorporate world-leading physics capabilities and enable time-dependent, non-LTE radiative transfer magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. The framework will be released as open-source software, with a strong emphasis on accessibility, flexibility, scalability, and scientific rigour.

Funded by the STFC, SAMS brings together researchers from the Universities of Sheffield, Exeter, Cambridge, and Warwick. The code will be developed to ensure world-class physics capabilities, maintaining the UK’s solar physics community at the forefront of international research and enabling full exploitation of next-generation observations and Exascale computing.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join this ambitious project. You should hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant field such as applied or pure mathematics, physics, control engineering, or computer science.

You will join both the SAMS consortium and the internationally renowned Plasma Dynamics Group within the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Sheffield. You will play a key role in both the computational development and scientific application of SAMS, contributing to the School’s and the project’s international reputation in solar physics and data-driven modelling.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Construct and implement radiation transfer modules for the photosphere
• Development of the user-friendly help system: a local help system (LHS) and a web-based interactive help system (WBIHS).
• Participate in the development of code acceleration (GPU)
• Participate in numerical modelling (HPC (GPU), MPI Fortran / C, C++ Kokkos, Python, Perl) of SAMS front end and physics/test modules.
• Write research reports, progress reports, high-quality journal papers, and meet any other reporting obligations.
• Prepare and give presentations, reporting research results and related work.
• Coordinate and liaise with other members of the consortium and research group over work progress.
• Develop and test software regularly to achieve the required project objectives.
• Assist in the supervision of undergraduate, master's, and PhD projects in related areas.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Hold or be close to completing a PhD in applied (pure) mathematics, physics, control, computing science, or a related area (or equivalent experience).
• Strong background in two or more of the following professional skill areas (assessed at application and interview):

• Programming: HPC (GPU), MPI Fortran / C, C++ Kokkos, Python, Perl
• Solar physics (numerical modelling with Lare 2d, 3d / MURaM / Bifrost / R2D2)
• Experience working with large-scale datasets, ensuring efficient processing, analysis
• Construction of 2-3D magnetic configurations in the solar atmospheres

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience writing publications/reports and presenting your findings to a range of audiences. (assessed at application, interview, and presentation).
• Experience of publishing in peer-reviewed journals (assessed at application).
• Ability to make decisions and apply creative approaches to solving complex technical problems (assessed at application, interview, and presentation).
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment, including individuals both internal and external to the University (assessed at application and interview)
• Ability to plan own workload and prioritise conflicting deadlines. (assessed at application and interview).
• Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving. (assessed at application and interview)
• Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities.
• Ability to plan work effectively to project timescales and produce project deliverables on time.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with a range of project management approaches.
• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications.
• Ability to contribute to research proposal development.
• Ability to support both undergraduate and postgraduate student projects.

Further Information

Grade: 7

Duration: From 1st of July 2025, 3 years

Line manager: Professor Viktor Fedun, Professor in Space Science

For informal enquiries about this job contact Professor Viktor Fedun, Professor in Space Science on v.fedun@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in June 2025. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage in mid June 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, you can contact.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.