Research Associate in Active Acoustic Monitoring

Position: We are seeking to recruit a Research Associate in Active acoustic monitoring of offshore wind ecosystem effects to join our multi-disciplinary team. If you are excited by interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and real-world impact, this is your chance to shape the future of offshore renewables.

Active acoustic (multi-frequency scientific echosounder) measurements underpin understanding of the ecosystem effects of offshore renewables, through quantification of prey (pelagic fish) availability to top predators. By investigating this unique window into the ocean, we can reveal the dynamic interactions between prey, predators and offshore wind farms.

This role provides a rare opportunity to push the boundaries of integrated marine monitoring. Combining distributed multi-sensor seabed landers, ship-based surveys and uncrewed surface vehicles, allows us to build a spatio-temporal understanding of pelagic fish distributions, and how prey availability changes around fixed and floating offshore wind infrastructure. Ship surveys inside and ‘downstream’ of windfarms can quantify spatial gradients and wake effects, while autonomous multi-sensor seabed landers provide temporal persistence to quantify predictability over tidal and diel cycles. Current research priorities are investigating the mechanisms driving elevated fish densities around offshore wind, the range of these effects, and effects of wind and tide wakes.

Responsibilities: The post holders will develop and apply processing techniques to active acoustic data from multi-frequency echosounders on autonomous landers and ships to discriminate large zooplankton, individual fish and schools, including investigating differences between species groups. You will investigate the mechanisms affecting prey fish presence and behaviour around fixed and floating offshore wind farms. You will contribute to the design and data collection of upcoming multi-platform and multi-ship field campaigns in 2025, 2026 and beyond.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills: The suitable candidates will have the knowledge, skills and experience associated with a first degree, together with a PhD or equivalent professional qualification/ at least 4 years appropriate professional experience. You will have the developing ability to prepare research proposals, to conduct individual research work and to disseminate results. You will have experience with scientific echosounder data collection, calibration, processing and analysis. An interest in the oceanographic and ecosystem effective of large-scale marine anthropogenic structures and predator-prey interactions is required.

Experience of academic teaching would be advantageous.

Benefits of working for us: 

• 45 days annual leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Local Government Pension Scheme (Highland Council)
• 10% Membership Discount at Highlife Highland 
• Occupational sick pay scheme and family friendly leave provisions
• Staff Support and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Employment Benefits Scheme including lifestyle savings and Cycle to Work Scheme

To Apply: For a full job description and an application form, download the pack at: Staff - Vacancies (uhi.ac.uk) or email recruitment.nwh@uhi.ac.uk

Please include your CV with your application.

• Job description
• Guidance Notes for Candidates
• Personal Details Form
• Application form

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