Soil Molecular Ecologist
Permanent and Full Time (37 hours per week)
Annual Salary £43,092 – £52,705 (depending on experience)
Location: Wallingford, hybrid working with up to 3 days working from home/flexible working
Closing Date: Tues, 28th February 2023. We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier, should we receive sufficient applications.
Interviews: to be held on an ad hoc basis and could be before the closing date! You are encouraged to apply early for this opportunity!
As a senior member of the Molecular Ecology Group, part of the Soils and Land Use Science Area you will contribute to ongoing research and have the opportunity to develop your own portfolio of research. This could focus on a specific issue and approach (e.g., modelling, field or laboratory experiments, data science/bioinformatics). Your research will focus on soil ecology with environmental or societal relevance using omics techniques.
You will contribute to a range of projects with multiple partners from universities, consultancies, and independent research organisations, with specialisms in biodiversity, water, climate and the atmosphere, reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of our work.
The team comprises an enthusiastic group of academics across a range of career stages (including PhD students), working together to deliver high quality research. We host world class laboratories, with state-of-the-art molecular biology, high throughput sequencing (Illumina, Oxford Nanopore), spectroscopy (Raman, FTIR) and flow cytometry (and sorting) capabilities.
Main Responsibilities
- Conduct high quality research on soil molecular ecology, working with partner organisations to perform and coordinate research
- Production of high quality scientific outputs, including papers, contract reports and presentations
- Initiate and develop new research and show the potential to attract funding
- Use your skills and expertise to contribute to wider research within the group and across UKCEH
- Line management of staff and supervision of PhD students
- Stakeholder engagement in the university, commercial, regulatory and conservation sectors to represent our research activities
About you
You are an enthusiastic, curiosity-driven, and collaborative scientist with a keen interest in soil molecular ecology.
We are particularly interested in researchers with a track record in one or more of the following areas:
- Microbial ecophysiology and the role of soil microbes in nutrient cycling and soil health
- Trait and niche based experimentation and modelling of soil microbes
- Bioinformatics and/or ecological modelling of environmental metagenomic data
Essential Skills, Knowledge & Qualifications
- A PhD in a relevant subject (e.g., molecular ecology, microbial ecology, bioinfomatics)
- A strong track record in your field, exemplified by high-quality publications
- A track record of applying for research funding/able to initiate and develop new research and attract funding required
- Specialised expertise in soil molecular ecology
- The ability to work with diverse stakeholders from academia and industry
Desirable Skills
- A track record of successful research funding applications
- A UK driving license
Core Behaviours & Values
- You will demonstrate a commitment to promote and adhere to UKCEH values of Excellence, Integrity and Teamwork
What we Offer
We are an independent, not-for-profit research institute. Our 500 scientists supported by our experienced professional service teams, provide the data and insights that researchers, governments, and businesses need to create a productive, resilient, and healthy environment.
We want you to love what you do whilst looking after yourself, so we support you with excellent things such as:
- 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after 5 years
- On site free parking
- On site restaurant (Wallingford only)
- Above standard pension contributions
- Enhanced maternity and paternity
- Cycle2Work Scheme
- A flexible approach to work, enabling you to maintain a healthy work/life balance
- Charity donations – Employees can take advantage of Payroll Giving, one of the simplest and smartest ways to support favourite charities
- 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial troubles
How to Apply
To apply for this position, click the Apply button. As well as a CV which includes your publication record, please upload a covering letter detailing how you meet the criteria for this role.
For questions about the position, please contact Dr Daniel Read, Group Lead for Molecular Ecology Email: daniel.read@ceh.ac.uk
Once the closing date has been reached this job ad will disappear, so we recommend you take a copy now!