Research Technician - Soil carbon dynamics

This new full time post is available from 1 November 2024 on a fixed term basis until 31 October 2025.

Summary of the role

The University wishes to recruit a Research Technician to take a key role in a UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-funded project that aims to better understand the mechanisms through which organic matter becomes stabilised in soils, with a view to enhancing carbon storage agricultural soils for climate change mitigation.

The successful candidate will play a key role in processing soil samples from Rothamsted’s long-term experiments, and testing the appropriateness and efficiency of current methodologies, particularly for separating soil organic matter into different physical fractions. This role is part of a large collaborative project involving environmental chemists, soil scientists and modellers, led by the University of Bristol and also involving Rothamsted Research Harpenden. The role offers an exciting opportunity to be involved in cutting edge research, with novel compound-specific radiocarbon analyses being applied to some of the longest-term field experiments in the world.

This position is linked to external research funding and available from November 2024. It is available for 12 months based on working full time, but can be extended accordingly if working on a part time basis is preferred.

About you

The successful candidate will have experience of analysing environmental samples in a laboratory setting, with experience of working with soils and sediments being strongly favoured. They must also be able to demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively with teams of researchers, and must be motivated by the opportunity to contribute to research aimed at identifying options for using soils to remove carbon from the atmosphere. The post holder will demonstrate an ability to undertake laboratory and field research, including ensuring safe working practices through training and risk assessments, managing inventories of materials and chemicals, and purchasing laboratory supplies.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further information

Please contact Prof. Iain Hartley, e-mail i.hartley@exeter.ac.uk or telephone (01392) 724362.

Interviews are expected to take place in within 3 weeks of this closing date.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

This role may be subject to additional background screening.

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