Research Assistant/Associate in Conservation and Evolutionary Genomics

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Salary
Research Assistant: £32,546 - £34,132 per annum.
Research Associate: £35,116 - £45,413 per annum.

The Role
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant/Associate to work in the group of Dr Evelyn Jensen in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Newcastle University on a project funded by the Oak Foundation working in conservation and evolutionary genomics of the Galapagos giant tortoises.

The Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis sp.) are iconic emblems of both evolutionary biology and the fight to save endangered species. This radiation of at least 15 lineages can be considered a "natural experiment" and is an excellent study system for evolutionary biology that has the benefit of also being of huge public and conservation interest. Research over the last 20 years using genetic markers such as microsatellites and mitochondrial gene sequencing has revealed much about the history of divergence among lineages and patterns of colonization across the archipelago. The overall goal of the project will be to use an existing whole genome dataset to further the current understanding of speciation and past and present hybridization within the Galapagos giant tortoise lineages. Results from this project will then be used to guide an ancestry-informed captive breeding program, which will be designed during the post.

You should have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in conservation / evolutionary genomics. You will be expected to present through oral presentations, write conservation recommendation reports, contribute to publications, requiring strong communication skills. In addition to conducting your research, you will take on some responsibility for training and supervising postgraduate and undergraduate research students within the lab group.

The School of Natural and Environmental Science at Newcastle University is a world-leading centre of research excellence, delivering impact to society from our local area to all corners of the planet. Our school provides a distinctive breadth of subjects and specialisms and our ground-breaking research has led to a wide range of exciting discoveries from new treatments for ovarian cancer to the development of pest-resistant crops.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

For more information about research within the School of Natural and Environmental Science at Newcastle University, please see here.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Evelyn Jensen at the following email address: evelyn.jensen@newcastle.ac.uk.

The post is full-time, fixed-term for 12 months.

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