Research Fellow - Molecular Ecology

About us

This is an exciting opportunity to join an interdisciplinary team of researchers from UCL on a Future Leaders Fellowship-funded project that will innovate the use of air quality monitoring networks for biodiversity data capture using environmental DNA isolated from the air. The research fellow will primarily be based at the People and Nature Lab on the new UCL East campus.

The People and Nature Lab is a collaborative group of researchers addressing the intersection between biodiversity, technology, the built environment and society to create new ways for societies and nature to sustainably coexist. Collaborators include Professor David Murrell (UCL) and Dr Martin Wilkes (University of Essex).

About the role

Dr Littlefair has been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship which will investigate how ecological communities are responding to human impacts globally and deliver technological solutions to the problem of scale in biodiversity monitoring using the air quality networks. We are seeking an experienced postdoctoral scientist to carry out field, laboratory and bioinformatics research associated with the Future Leaders Fellowship.

This role is an open-ended contract with a funding end date of 31/08/2028 in the first instance.

Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.

Interviews will take place in late March 2025.

A job description and person specification can be accessed via the “apply” button.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Dr Joanne Littlefair. If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR Administrator.

About you

You hold a PhD in a relevant area or are about to submit your thesis and have significant experience of working in ecological/environmental genetics and/or environmental DNA fields. Experience in lab methodology for the analysis of ecological/environmental genetics or environmental DNA data is essential, as is experience in conducting bioinformatic analyses (e.g. shell scripting or python) and the application of appropriate ecological statistics (e.g. in R). The successful candidate will ideally have a knowledge of, or interest in, UK or international biomonitoring schemes. Excellent project management and communication skills, including with external stakeholders and end-users, are essential. The ability to keep meticulous records of field work, lab work, and well-annotated computer code is crucial to the smooth running of this project. The postholder will also be expected to play a significant role in writing the resulting publication(s) and reports. There will be exciting oppor tunities to work with external partners and develop a network in this innovative research area, and take advantage of the significant career development opportunities that the wider team and UCL offer. Please read the person specification carefully when formulating your application.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits. Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

Customer advert reference: B02-08338

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