Post Doctoral Research Associate in Insect Pollination

The role

The aim of this research project is to quantify the impact of a pesticide ban on a pollinator community and test for cascading impacts through the wider food web. The ban is being implemented on the island of Guernsey, and we will use three neighbouring islands as controls.  The impact of the pesticide ban upon populations of common pollinators and on their community structure will be quantified and we’ll test for cascading positive benefits of the ban on the wider community associated with pollinators, specifically their specialist parasitoids and generalist bat predators.  We have already collected five years of data and this project will analyse these samples and collect a further two years of data.  The project is supported by a dedicated technician and the field samples are collected by skilled volunteers based on the islands.

What will you be doing?

You will be responsible for assisting the project’s Principle and Co-Investigators (assisted by project technician) in the following tasks:

• Work closely with a team of volunteers, run the four-week field season on Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney and Sark; this requires being based on the islands for c. 6 weeks.
• Prepare the insect samples collected in the Malaise traps for bar coding and identification by taxonomists.
• Prepare buff tailed bumblebee samples for genetic analysis for lineage survival analysis
• Train the volunteers in the use of the acoustic bat recorders located next to each Malaise trap
• Analyse the data and prepare publications for submission to peer reviewed journals.

You should apply if

Essential knowledge & skills

• A degree and PhD (or working towards one) in a relevant topic  
• Experience of research in the field of community ecology
• Experience of fieldwork with insects and a good entomological identification skills.
• Excellent organisational skills will be needed to keep track of 1000’s of specimens from multiple field sites and sampling years.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required to coordinate the large number of volunteers and personnel associated with the project; good problem solving skills are a must.
• Work experience which includes working with volunteers, ideally in a citizen science or ecological outreach context.
• Good time management skills and the ability to organize your own workload.
• An understanding of Health & Safety requirements and how they contribute to risk assessments.
• A full clean UK Driving Licence
• The applicant will need to be based in Bristol.

Desirable knowledge & skills

• Molecular skills (PCR, microsatellites)
• Knowledge of pesticides and their impact on biodiversity in general and pollinators in particular.
• Knowledge of bat ecology and the use of bat acoustic recording to estimate activity.

Additional information

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Jane Memmott Jane.Memmott@bristol.ac.uk

The advert will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 15th September 2024

Interviews are anticipated to be held on Wednesday 2nd October 2024

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