Research Associate/Fellow (Fixed Term)

Location: Sutton Bonington

Applications are Invited for a Research Associate/Fellow to work on a project assessing the impacts of climate change on methane dynamics in the peatlands of the Peruvian Amazon, working in the group of Dr. Nick Girkin (Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, UK)

The purpose of this role is to support a new NERC project ‘Environmental and ecological drivers of tropical peatland methane dynamics across spatial scales’. Methane emissions from tropical peatlands across South America are increasing, contributing to climate change, but the ecological and environmental drivers underpinning this are poorly understood. This is a major gap in understanding the future global methane budget. A key focus of this role is to quantify methane dynamics and identify relevant underlying drivers of fluxes across dominant vegetation types in the Pastaza-Maranon foreland basin, a 31,500 km² peatland in the Peruvian Amazon. Data will underpin the development of new models that can be used to understand the impacts of future changes in land management or climate on methane dynamics. The successful candidates will work closely in collaboration with partners at Aberdeen and Cranfield Universities, and with IIAP (Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana) in Peru. This post offers a unique opportunity to lead new research and answer key questions regarding the impacts of future environmental change on tropical peatland carbon dynamics.

Applicants must be highly motivated and self-driven, with a PhD (or close to completion) in a relevant discipline (e.g. terrestrial environmental/agricultural science or biological/physics sciences area). Knowledge of measurement techniques for methane and other greenhouse gases is essential, as is experience of designing and delivering fieldwork. It is desirable for the successful candidate to have experience conducting fieldwork in remote tropical/peatland environments in South America or elsewhere, and a track-record in publishing/giving conference presentations. 

This is a full-time post (36.25 hours) and is available immediately, on a fixed term contract to 31^st May 2027. Job share arrangements may be considered.

Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Nicholas Girkin, email nicholas.girkin@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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