Research Associate In Biometeorology

Salary: £33,966 to £37,099 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 09 June 2024

The Role

We are looking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Biometeorology for a 1-year position in Professor Yit Arn Teh’s Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Research Group at Newcastle University. 

The postholder will be responsible for investigating carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and water vapour (H2O) fluxes from restored peatlands in Northeast England rehabilitated using different restoration practices. The postholder will use eddy covariance and static flux chamber techniques to develop carbon and energy budgets for these restored ecosystems and evaluate the efficacy of different restoration practices. 

The work will be conducted in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, biometeorologists, soil scientists and forest scientists from academia and government research agencies (e.g. Forest Research), further advancing the science of ecosystem restoration and providing the underpinning knowledge base for the UK’s policies around peatland restoration.

Newcastle University are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment and we would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible and/or blended working.

For further information about the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences click here.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Yit Arn Teh at YitArn.Teh@newcastle.ac.uk.

Applications should be made through the Newcastle University jobs portal: https://jobs.ncl.ac.uk, where you are invited to provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in ‘The Person’ by uploading a letter of application along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

Key Accountabilities

• To design, execute and analyse experiments on trace gas exchange using biometeorological measurement techniques (e.g. eddy covariance)
• To liaise with the principal investigator to plan, organise and implement the work programme
• To disseminate research results through appropriate media, including authoring or co-authoring papers for publication in high-quality academic journals
• To contribute to existing and new interdisciplinary collaborations
• To train and assist undergraduate and postgraduate students in design and implementation of related studies or experiments
• Represent the research group and disseminate information about its work at national and international events
• Contribute to learning and development through the provision of documentation, training and advice
• Undertake relevant training and development activities in order to develop an awareness of own professional development needs
• Maintain and develop knowledge to keep abreast of the latest and most relevant technologies
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience in biometeorological techniques (e.g. eddy covariance)
• Experience designing, executing, and analysing field experiments
• Knowledge of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemical processes
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• High level of problem-solving capacity

Desirable

•   Experience in other flux measurement techniques, such as back trajectory modelling, airborne flux measurements, static flux       chamber methods, laboratory incubation techniques, or other process-based flux measurement techniques
•   Experience modelling canopy-scale processes
•   Experience modelling soil processes

Attributes and Behaviour

•    Comfortable working both individually and in teams
•    Strong team working skills
•    Ability to peaceably resolve differences of opinion
•    Capacity for original thought
•    Enthusiasm and a strong work ethic
•    Ability to interact with researchers from different backgrounds
•    Ability to communicate scientific results to a broad or non-specialist audience
•    Ability and willingness to work in interdisciplinary environments
•    Well-developed interpersonal communication skills that enable you to engage external and internal stakeholders and work effectively in a multidisciplinary team

Qualifications

• A PhD in a relevant science subject, such as biometeorology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem ecology, environmental science, or physical geography

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 27074