Research Associate - Environmental Systems Modeller

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Research Associate - Environmental Systems Modeller

Based in Bangor

Band 6 - Salary £26,715 – £30,000

About the role

We offer a prestigious Research Associate training programme to develop skilled UK/EU scientists for the future of European environmental research.  The 3-year training programme offers you the opportunity to gain practical experience of working within our active research projects whilst acquiring specialist and wider skills valuable for your future career.  Each Research Associate will deliver specific, measurable objectives intended to develop their skills as a researcher and to demonstrate their suitability for a research career.

Description of work area

Integrated Catchment management and soil systems.

Description of specific work to be undertaken and skills to be gained

We are seeking a broadly-trained, enthusiastic and committed individual who approaches central questions in environmental and ecosystem sciences from a computational or modelling perspective.

You will possess formal training and practical experience in the application of mechanistic and/or statistical approaches to ecological and ecosystem modeling and scaling of space and time phenomena.  You will play a significant role in the development of leading-edge integrated modelling systems, bringing together knowledge from a range of disciplines essential for modelling ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services.

You will contribute to CEH research themes in sustainable land use, natural capital, ecological resilience and soil/water research. You will have a role in the development and application of models for predicting changes in landscape biogeochemistry and ecosystem function as a result of changes in climate, land use and diffuse pollution, with particular focus on:

1) Quantifying landscape-scale ecosystem services with a focus on spatial and temporal trade-offs or synergies in multiple services;

2) Improving numerical simulation and prediction of land-water interactions in current land-atmosphere models for the catchment community; and

3) Development of air pollution impact modeling frameworks for biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Your duties will be carried out within a broad team of ecologists, soil scientists, catchment modellers, landscape analysts and software developers.  The modeling work will be carried out within an integrated methodology for stakeholder-relevant assessments that explicitly evaluate regional and national scale policy options and cross-sectoral interactions between the key sectors driving landscape change in the UK.

Skills Required

This is a research based post and candidates will be expected to have:

• A PhD or equivalent experience in environmental or ecological modelling.  
• Familiarity with ecosystem service models is particularly desirable.  
• A high level of proficiency in one or more of relevant programming languages e.g. Python, C and R is required together a willingness to learn additional coding languages (e.g. FORTRAN, Matlab).
• An important part of the job will be to maintain communications with senior staff and to work around any problems encountered; therefore, you are required to have good communication skills and the ability to work on your own initiative.  
• You will be working in collaboration with other scientists so will need a flexible attitude, the ability to meet deadlines and a sound teamwork ethic.
• Experience of Geographical Information Systems and manipulation of large datasets, multivariate statistical techniques and spatial techniques are desirable but training can be provided.

Training skills to be gained

• Basic scientific knowledge of underlying processes embedded in ecosystem models
• Familiarity with other ecosystem service and integrated modelling frameworks
• Skills in C and Fortran  languages including version control, debugging, testing etc
• GIS and Python skills, R language and Matlab
• CEH/NERC data management and databases
• Generic personal development skills including quality assurance, report & paper writing, presentation skills, proposal writing and project management. 
  

Contract Type:  Fixed term training appointment (3 years)
Hours:  Full Time (37 hours)
Closing Date:  21/03/2014
Interview Date: 16/04/2014

Reference:  IRC133234

Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services; for further information and to apply please visit our website: http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc133593_4228.aspx. If you are unable to apply online please contact us on 01793 867000 quoting reference number IRC133593.