Research Fellow in Forest Methane

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,880 to £45,163 with potential progression once in post to £47,874

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to December 2027

Background

Part of the DefMet project (Is Tropical Deforestation Contributing to the Rise in Atmospheric Methane?), funded within the NERC Pushing the Frontiers scheme, this role will contribute to the understanding of tropical upland forest methane dynamics in West Africa and the role of deforestation in shaping 21st Century atmospheric methane concentrations. The data gathered are essential to inform understanding of how atmospheric methane removal by tropical trees responds to hydrological controls. This new knowledge will be used, together with modelling colleagues, to refine our estimates of how shifting global forest area influences the global methane budget. We aim to recruit into a dynamic team and we will provide support that allows for the personal and career growth of the recruited postdoc. 

Main Duties

• Make and oversee measurements of methane exchange on trees spanning a rainfall gradient in Ghana and coordinate work with the Ghana team to maintain complementary ancillary measurements.
• Lead the organization of project outputs, including publications and conference presentations, etc.
• Collaborate with the wider interdisciplinary project team to develop potential synergies in findings and applications where possible. Principally in informing method development.
• Contribute to the supervision of students on related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline and reciprocally support fellow lab colleagues.
• Provide support to management/administration tasks arising from research.
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.

Person Specification

• PhD (or near to completion) in the fields of ecology, ecophysiology or related areas. 
• Experience in chamber methods of trace gas exchange, experience in measuring methane exchange in forest ecosystems is desirable but not essential.
• An understanding of forest ecophysiological processes and forest ecology is desirable as well as wider issues relating to the methane cycle.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis and presentation.
• Experience in organising instrument maintenance and liaising with manufacturers to troubleshoot.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly in English.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative in research projects.
• Good self-organisation skills.
• Experience of contributing to planning and organising research programmes and/or specific research projects and fieldwork. Comfortable working at height.
• Coordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort, and also to generate collaborative opportunities.

Informal enquiries can be made to Vincent Gauci, email: v.gauci@bham.ac.uk. 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above. 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 16/12/2024

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