Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Macroecology, Paleobiology, & Niche Modelling

The post holder will develop an analytical framework to achieve the grant objectives. The post holder will model ecological niches of feeding and breeding grounds in extant whale migratory species, for which occurrence data are widely available. They will then establish the degree of geographic separation between these two ecological niches for each species, to gain an understanding of the environmental drivers of migration.

 

Armed with this information, the post holder will use cutting-edge paleoclimatic modelling that incorporates nutrient cycling and carbon chemistry (HadOCC) to infer the distribution of potential feeding and breeding grounds for whales in the past.

 

Using phylogenetic comparative methods and the niche modelling results, the post holder will examine the evolutionary history of ecological niches broadly across the clade, and reconstruct geographic distributions of key nodes and fossil taxa.

 

 

You will hold or be close to completion of a relevant PhD/DPhil, together with relevant experience. You will possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established research programmes as well as the ability to manage own academic research and associated activities. You will have experience of contributing to publications/presentations and the ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation. You will have excellent communication skills including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results and represent the research group at meetings.

 

Experience of independently managing a discrete area of a research project and actively collaborating in the development of research articles for publication is desirable but not essential.

 

The deadline for applications is midday 01 August 2025. Interviews will be held on 11 August 2025.

 

You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

 

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in research posts in the Department.

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