Research Associate in Fungal Based Geotechnologies (727775)

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to recruit a talented researcher to a 9-month Research Associate position to work on fungal-based geotechnologies. This position is funded by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project: ‘Soil-mycelia systems for slope stabilisation’ led by Dr Grainne El Mountassir.

The aim of the project is to develop novel nature-based solutions for ground engineering using saprotrophic filamentous fungi. Recent research at the University of Strathclyde has shown that fungal growth in soils can induce desirable modifications to soil behaviour. This position will be focused on developing methods to quantify fungal biomass in soils and also on methods for enhancing the durability of fungal treatment and its associated mechanical effects.

The successful researcher will be based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK. The Department has over £9.5 million of current research projects in ground and subsurface engineering and you will join an enthusiastic and friendly team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers that research a range of bio- and bio-chemical ground improvement and grouting technologies.

The University is seeking an excellent and enthusiastic candidate that can contribute to laboratory-based research. This project lies at the interface between a range of disciplines and as such will make use of a wide range of skills including analytical chemistry techniques (e.g. HPLC, ICP), microbiological practices (e.g. culturing), material characterisation (e.g. mechanical testing) and imaging techniques (e.g. SEM, Optical microscopy). To be considered for the role, you should have a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. Soil science, Material Science, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences) and have successfully completed a PhD in a relevant field (e.g. Ecological engineering, Environmental engineering, Soil science, Environmental microbiology, Geomicrobiology, Geochemistry).

Formal interviews for this post are anticipated to be held in the week beginning 28th July 2025.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Grainne El Mountassir, Reader, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (grainne.elmountassir@strath.ac.uk).

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