Research Associate, Full time fixed term for 36 months

The Role

We are inviting a motivated doctoral candidate to participate in the exciting project titled “Linking plastic particle characteristics to their uptake and transformation by groundwater animals”. This involves designing and conducting a series of microcosm experiments to determine whether and how the nature of microplastic particles affects uptake and transformation by groundwater animals. Candidates must possess a Masters degree but must not yet be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment; you will be required to register for a doctoral degree. This PhD is funded as part of the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network PlasticUnderground.

The PlasticUnderground Doctoral Network (DN) is an international, multi partner, inter-sectoral doctoral research-training network with the aim to prepare an international cohort of Doctoral Candidates in the development of solutions to the emerging plastic pollution crisis in soils and groundwater. The network provides ample opportunities for international and inter-sectoral secondments, international joint experiments, advanced training courses among other activities. The consortium comprises universities, research institutions and companies located in the UK, France, Spain, Serbia, Italy, Switzerland, Cyprus and Germany.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Co-design and conduct microcosm experiments with groundwater animals and microplastics.
• Measure the effect of microplastics on the growth rates of groundwater animals using respiration rates as a proxy. 
• Quantify changes to plastics and their biofilms that occur during passage through the guts of groundwater animals.
• Draft academic and scientific dissemination papers on project research findings and present results to project audience

The successful candidate will have skills and experience in:

• working with a range of people, including academics and experience of supporting collaborative research
• a good understanding of the subject area with an emerging record of research and publication or other research outputs in one or more relevant areas such as field ecology or ecological experiments.
• excellent written and spoken English
• excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills

What we would provide for you:

• The opportunity to work within a friendly, cooperative, fast-paced environment.
• The opportunity to work on a beautiful campus.
• The opportunity to learn more about providing customer-led student services.
• Guidance and training on processes, regulations and systems

The University

Roehampton is London’s Campus University, based on a beautiful 54 acre parkland campus. This short video will give you a taste of life at our wonderful campus and its excellent facilities. The successful applicant, in return from the University, will receive a generous pension scheme, support for CPD activities, enhanced holiday allowance, plus closure over Christmas, as well as various fringe benefits such as generous family friendly policies, discount at high street shops, cycle to work scheme, travel loans and discounted gym membership among others.

Further information can be found on the job description. If you would like to apply for this amazing opportunity, please click on ‘Apply’ or visit the working at Roehampton pages of our website. If you have any specific questions on the role, please contact the Principal Investigator, Professor Anne Robertson

The University is committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity and aims to create a culture and environment where students and staff are treated fairly. The University is an equal opportunities and ‘disability confident’ employer,

http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/Working-at-Roehampton/

The closing date for completed applications is: 30th April 2023

It is expected that interviews will be held on 11th May 2023

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