Research Resident

Research Resident

We are a team of impatient optimists who want to make a lasting, positive and sustainable impact across the planet - by doing science! We believe the benefits of scientific thinking should be accessible, affordable and used to empower people, communities and organisations to adapt to rising climate volatility.

As such, we are seeking a diverse set of candidates eager to ask questions that have not been asked before at the intersection of machine learning and earth sciences. For scientific residencies, a typical project lasts 3-6 months and could consist of tasks such as:

• reading and synthesising academic papers;
• data engineering and feature extraction;
• implementation of a reproducible data processing pipeline;
• exploratory data analysis;
• implementation of benchmark models;
• implementation of ML algorithms / inference for statistical models;
• validation of models using simulated data;
• systematic and reproducible comparison of models using real data;
• presentation of research results;
• write-up of research results and submission to an academic conference;
• submitting pull requests for code reviews, to ensure your project is maintainable and to share knowledge within the team.

Requirements

We are looking for candidates who have:

• strong coding skills in python or julia;
• strong quantitative knowledge in environmental or physical sciences, statistics, machine learning, or applied mathematics;
• some research experience and ability to take ownership of a research project;
• curiosity, creative problem-solving skills, a collaborative spirit and an interest in climate-related issues.

We are a pro-diversity company and passionate about bringing together people of all backgrounds, because we know that a diverse team will help us achieve our mission sooner.

What can I expect from the program?
Our research program is very similar to an academic Masters or PhD project but with a spin of an open and welcoming start-up culture. You will be reading papers, leading an independent research project, and of course you will receive the best possible mentoring experience and support from our science and engineering team. You will be fully embedded in our team and working alongside our scientists. Closer to the end of your residency you will be expected to share your work in the best possible medium, that being a blog post or an academic publication at a conference paper or a workshop.

When do residencies take place? How long are they?
We are currently accepting applications for residencies during the summer of 2021. There is some flexibility for the timing and duration of the residency to suit your project and your other obligations. Residencies typically last 3 months or more.

Who should apply?
Most important for us, is that you are mission-driven, hungry to learn, and have a strong interest in earth sciences, machine learning, and the implications of this combination on policy and societies. We are particularly encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

What is the application process?
Please send us your CV and a brief cover letter on residency@cervest.earth, as well as contact details for a reference. Since we expect a high number of applicants, after sending us your CV you will hear back from us with a technical task to complete. Selected candidates will then have a 30 minute remote interview with a Cervest employee before the final selection is made.

Is the residency paid?
Yes, our residents are paid a daily stipend that is above the London living wage. The residency is an education experience but you will also be working on a project that genuinely advances Cervest’s goals.

Are there non-technical residencies at Cervest?
Yes, we are also open to applications for residencies related to climate policy and transitional risk. Please contact us if you have a background in policy, economics or related fields.

Are the residencies in-person or remote? Do I have to be in the UK?
The current assumption is that residencies this year will once again be remote-first. This was a success last year, so we are confident that we can do it again. We are therefore open to applicants who are within ±1 timezone of the UK. If the situation allows, we would love to be able to physically meet and work together in London