Research Associate: Ecosystem Change in Savannas

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: 22 months

The Opportunity:

The University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge have been awarded a new grant to study the effectiveness of restoration in African savannas. This new project will contribute to the SEOSAW network, a partnership dedicated to understanding how African savannas are responding to global change and how these ecosystems can best be managed and restored.

We are seeking a highly talented, independent and motivated candidate for a 22-month fixed term position. You will work as part of a team to collect, clean and analyse data on savanna vegetation change across Africa. You will work at research sites that are part of the SEOSAW network, collecting data to continue long term observations of vegetation change, and in some cases, establishing new plots to compare restored and unrestored savannas. Your work will focus on the vegetation and soils data and you will work alongside a post doctoral researcher who will lead on bird diversity data. You will undertake data analysis to reveal patterns of vegetation change and to compare restored and unrestored savannas, feeding back information to restoration practitioners about the effectiveness of different land management approaches.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) based alongside the SEOSAW office and Casey Ryan at the University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings and will require extensive travel for fieldwork. 

The post is fixed term for 22 months.

This post will be appointed at Grade UE06.1 which is £34,132 per annum, which is within a range of £34,132 - £39,355 per annum.

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• An undergraduate or Master’s degree, or a degree close to completion, in environmental science, geography, or ecology, with a focus on ecological field data collection and analysis.
• Experience of undertaking and organising fieldwork, and the associated teamwork and partnership building that is required.
• Critical thinking skills and attention to detail to ensure high quality data collection and analysis
• Knowledge of carbon cycling, biodiversity and restoration, ideally in the context of tropical savannas. 
• Self-starter with proven ability to work independently and efficiently to set deadlines.

Advert information