Post Doctoral Research Assistant (Full-Time / 4 Months Fixed-Term Contract)

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity founded in 1826, is a leading international conservation, science and education charity. ZSL’s mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. This is realised by carrying out field conservation and research in over 50 countries around the world and through education and engagement at our two zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, inspiring people to take conservation action.

We are looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to join a multi-disciplinary research team working on developing a tool to calculate the economic consequences of novel weed management strategies. The first stage of this project will involve researching and collating data on the costs of each type of farm operation. The second stage will involve building the tool and the third stage will involve testing the tool on different farm management scenarios and making any necessary adjustments so that the tool can then be used by other researchers.

The project involves Sheffield University where this role will be based and the Institute of Zoology in London.  The post holder will need to work closely with other Postdoctoral Researchers to ensure the tool develop meet the project requirements. Therefore the successful candidate will need to have excellent communication and organisation skills, to ensure regular updates with other project members and with stakeholders are upheld in the process of collating data and designing the tools.

• Designing and delivering a computer-based tool / model to calculate the economic consequences of changes to land use / farm management.
• Being responsible for creating and maintaining a database of farm management costs and incomes. This will include researching the equipment, materials and energy use associated with various farm management options as well as current market value for farm produce.
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with other project members and stakeholders.

Ideally the successful candidate will:

• Hold a PhD in agriculture or computer programming, or a related subject area.
• Have proven experience using a programme language to create a computer-based farm accounting / farm management tool.
• Be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills and an ability to work with large datasets.
• Have good computer literacy, including knowledge of database management and website maintenance as well as Geographical Information Systems (ArcGIS and/or QGIS or others) and R.
• Ideally have good working knowledge of Farm management, farm economics and agri-environmental issues.
• Have good knowledge of farm accounting and decision-making tools, and their development.
• Have good inter-personal skills, both in written and oral communication.
• Have outstanding administrative and organisation skills.

Please note: This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week) post for 4 months, with the possibility for extension. This role will be based a Sheffield University and may require travel to other sites.

For a full Job Description please click here.

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button on the following link. If you have any queries when applying through the system please contact Human Resources at hr@zsl.org.

For informal enquiries about the post, please contact Alexa Varah via e-mail at: Alexa.Varah@ioz.ac.uk.  

Closing date for applications: Midnight Sunday 26th February 2017

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.