The waters round Scotland are estimated to hold 10% of the European wave and 25% of the European tidal energy resource. While marine renewable technologies are advancing well, major environmental questions present on-going challenges to the development of the sector.
The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) of the North Highland College in Thurso and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban are partners in the UHI Millennium Institute (UHI); the 'emergent university of the Highlands and Islands'. Together we have secured £4 M funding for a unique multi-disciplinary research programme, Marine Renewable Energy and the Environment (MaREE) to address these key environmental issues.
We now seek to appoint dynamic, enthusiastic and well-motivated research scientists to address environmental research priorities in the following areas:
Climatology, physical oceanography and remote sensing (ERI):
Specialities of particular interest are tides (modelling & measurement), waves (modelling, measurement & climate), marine meteorology (e.g. weather windowing) and interactions of currents, waves, bathymetry and structures.
Marine ecology and environmental impacts (SAMS & ERI):
Particularly physical or bio-physical modelling, marine predator distribution and interaction (mammals & seabirds), ecological study design; ecological change (e.g. through currents & sedimentation); marine aggregation & disaggregation; benthic & pelagic community observation.
Sustainable development (ERI):
Integrating social, economic & environmental aspects of marine renewables.
For further information on these exciting opportunities and details of how to apply to either institution please visit www.eri.ac.uk and www.sams.ac.uk
Closing date for receipt applications is 26 March 2010.
