Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Biodiversity Change

Role Description

Research Centre & Department

The Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity (LCAB) is a collaborative research centre of academics, researchers and postgraduates from a wide range of disciplines, funded by the Leverhulme Trust to increase knowledge of how the relationship between humanity and the natural world is changing, and how we might maintain and develop a sustainable Earth and bring about positive change. The postholder will be mentored by Inês Martins, who holds a University Research Fellowship from the Royal Society entitled ‘Understanding the Complex Dynamics of Biodiversity Change’, in collaboration with colleagues at LCAB and Maria Dornelas at the University of St. Andrews. 

Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) with analytical skills and knowledge of biodiversity to plan and lead research on how biodiversity change is unfolding in the Anthropocene. This project will assess and analyse existing biodiversity and ecological data to evaluate to what extent ongoing scientific discrepancies and uncertainties are a consequence of (i) people using different methodological approaches, (ii) the types of data considered (including possible biases) or (iii) may be ‘real’ differences across the multiple dimensions and scales of biodiversity change. The post holder will explore and review current sources of uncertainty and discrepancies in biodiversity trends and they will develop and undertake analyses of biological change in response to human perturbation of the Earth system over different spatial and temporal scales. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• To plan, coordinate, develop and undertake world-leading research to increase the understanding of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene.
• To write up research findings and disseminate through publications, seminar and conference presentations, and through outreach activities.
• To collaborate with other researchers to increase the effectiveness of transdisciplinary research in the Centre, including attending meetings, providing guidance to other staff and students, and contributing to the preparation of future research proposals and applications.  

Skills, Experience & Qualifications needed

• PhD (current or forthcoming) in an appropriate subject area or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of ecology and global change, including a range of relevant research methodologies and expertise in an area which complements LCAB’s research programmes. 
• High competence in the analysis of large ecological and other data sets and time series.
• Ability to write up research for publication in high profile journals, along with excellent communication skills and competency in presenting work at conferences/other appropriate events.
• Ability to develop research objectives, projects and proposals for own and joint research, with the assistance of a mentor if required. 
• Experience of and capacity to carry out independent and collaborative research.
• Interest and enthusiasm for the project area, collaborative ethos and capacity and willingness to work proactively with colleagues.

Applicants are requested to provide a short outline (max. 1 page; font size 11 Arial) describing their proposed approach to tackle one or more of the aforementioned research goals. Following the appointment, this proposal will act as a starting point for discussions with mentors - before collaboratively agreeing the focus of the work. The postholder will be a member of LCAB and will work with colleagues across disciplines, as well as being a member of the Department of Biology.

Interview date: Early September 2025

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr. Inês Martins on ines.martins@york.ac.uk

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