Overview

British Antarctic Survey is looking for a Marine Environmental Ecologist to join our Ecosystems team.

Job reference: BAS 20/89
Contract type: Full Time
Duration: 2.5 years.
Expected start date between 1st March 2021 and 1st April 2021.
Salary: £31,305 – £34,028 per annum.
Benefits: We offer generous benefits
Team: Ecosystems team
Location: BAS Cambridge
Closing date: 6 December, 2020 11:59 pm

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, please note there may be delays to our recruitment timeline.

Who are we?
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through its extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org

We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as to keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe! If you are looking for an opportunity to work with amazing people in amazing places then British Antarctic Survey could be for you. We aim to attract the best people for those jobs.

Purpose

The project aims at understanding the impact of marine microplastic pollution on the ability of the ocean to export carbon from the surface to the deep ocean with a focus on zooplankton-plastic debris interaction. The main purpose of the role is to explore how the characteristics of plastics alter as a function of exposure to the marine environment; the vertical distribution and export of plastic over daily and seasonal timescales, and the role of zooplankton as vectors of plastics through the water column.

Work will encompass marine biogeochemical, biology and microplastic particle analysis and will include two multidisciplinary field campaigns (in the Southern Ocean and Mediterranean Sea), in which the post-holder will be involved in manipulative experiments and shipboard instrumentation and moored platforms deployment.

Qualification

PhD in marine environmental ecology or equivalent experience.

Duties

  • Contribute to the preparation and planning of CUPIDO research activities
  • Lead and publish high quality peer-reviewed research related to the CUPIDO objectives
  • Form and maintain national and international relationships and collaborations for scientific research
  • Travel to national and international meetings to present research findings
  • Work with novel oceanographic equipment and develop zooplankton, biogeochemical and microplastic laboratory protocols
  • Documentation of data set for curation in appropriate data centres (e.g. PDC, BODC)
  • Support cruise planning in terms of data collection
  • Achieve timely and relevant scientific paper outputs
  • Proactively pursue and contribute to future research grant opportunities
  • Documente of data set for curation in appropriate data centres (e.g. PDC, BODC)
  • Engage with the Arctic and Mediterrenean research community as well as with the general public for outreach

Skills Specification

Skills are listed as either Essential or Desirable. Desirable skills importance rating in parenthesis (1 is high, 5 is low)

Communication skills – a) oral skills b) written skills

  • Fluent in written and spoken English language. – Essential

Decision Making

  • Ability to work independently, but also to keep seniors informed. Decide on the appropriate experiments to answer research questions – Essential

Interpersonal skills

  • Must be able to work as part of a team and represent the project to others – Essential

Managerial ability

  • Evidence of time-management skills – Essential
  • Experience of managing projects – Desirable [2]

Numerical ability

  • Good numerical ability and statistical analysis skills – Essential
  • Ability to interface with oceanographic instrument software – Desirable [3]

Other Factors

  • Self-motivated, with confidence to present complex pieces of work in an understandable way to a range of audiences – Essential

Qualifications

  • PhD in marine environmental ecology or equivalent experience – Essential
  • A good publication record, some post-doctoral experience. – Desirable [2]

Resource Management ability

  • Proven ability to manage a budget. – Essential

Skills / Experience

  • Good experience in using microplastic pollution and/or marine C flux methods and analyses – Essential
  • Familiarity with marine zooplankton methods and analyses – Desirable [1]

How to Apply

You can apply for this job online or you can print off the application forms, fill them out by hand and mail them.

 


Please quote reference: BAS 20/89
Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 06 December 2020
Interviews are scheduled to be held: 12 January 2021

BAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting equality in careers in science, we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme of activity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities and disabled people are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. We are open to a range of flexible working options, including job sharing, to support childcare and other caring responsibilities.