Postdoctoral Research Associate

Rhizocore Technologies Ltd. (https://www.rhizocore.com/) 

Overview

Rhizocore Technologies is an applied mycology startup (based at the Roslin Innovation Centre in Edinburgh) building the world’s largest commercial fungal strain library for the discovery, protection and utilisation of fungal biodiversity for environmental and social benefit. Rhizocore has a forestry product on the market using fungi to grow healthier, more resilient forests that are less susceptible to drought and that sequester more carbon. We are now researching the potential application of fungi to tackle environmental pollution (mycoremediation). We are starting an Innovate UK-funded 2-year project in partnership with The James Hutton Institute, Harper Adams University and The Cheshire Wildlife Trust, which aims to develop novel and effective fungal-filter technology that can be deployed in agricultural settings to remediate watercourses affected by agricultural pollution (e.g. Nitrates and Phosphates). To achieve this, we are hiring two postdoctoral researchers to support the development of this novel mycoremediation technology; one based at The James Hutton Institute, one based at Harper Adams University.

This post will be based at The James Hutton Institute (JHI), Aberdeen, an internationally recognised research centre based in Scotland tackling challenging problems including the environmental quality of soils and freshwaters under challenges of land use and climate, although with a requirement to undertake field work supported by the wider team in East Scotland, and to visit and meet with partners in Scotland and England. Our ideal applicant will have a PhD in environmental, soil or water sciences with experience of field monitoring, experimentation, laboratory analysis and data evaluation. The postholder will be involved in carrying out on-farm field evaluations (in E. Scotland) and experiments (in Aberdeen) involving fungal filter pre-trials in artificial channels, then pot experiments linking nutrient recovery (to plants) with runoff water quality, both as team member and leader of some activities. Knowledge of water and soil chemical and hydrological processes in a catchment context is essential, as is the ability to manage data quality from field monitoring and experiments. This post-doc opportunity will suit someone eager to understand interdisciplinary catchment pollution, develop nutrient capture and reuse working between academia and industry to answer global environmental quality challenges. The post holder must have the Right to Work in the UK, and be able to accommodate flexible working arrangements. A full candidate specification is given at: Job Advert | Postdoctoral Research Associate (JHI).docx

Information and dates

Hours of work: Full time

Contract type: Temporary - 24 months

Contracted hours: 34 per week

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Location: The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen

Reports to (position): Marc Stutter (JHI) and Philip Schuler (Rhizocore)

Closing date: 30 November 2024

Interview dates: 12 and 17 December, 2024

Start date: January 2025

Application Procedure

Please email the following to: recruitment@rhizocore.com

Cover Letter (<1000 words) and CV, including two referees.

Equality of opportunity is factored into all our recruitment decisions, and we welcome applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this post.

No agencies please.

Advert information