Postdoctoral Research Associate

A new full-time post is available from 1^st October on a fixed term basis.

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Dr Sarah Crowley. This Leverhulme Trust funded post is available from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2028. The successful applicant will conduct interdisciplinary research into European mole management practices and the evaluation of alternative approaches.

The post-holder will work on the Leverhulme research project, ‘Cultivating Co-existence: re-evaluating the management of European Moles’. This project, in partnership with the National Trust, aims to improve understanding of contemporary perceptions and treatment of moles, and to investigate how mole management might be made more humane and more sustainable. The post-holder will conduct interdisciplinary research including experimental field trials, social research, and ecological monitoring across multiple sites. The post-holder will lead the project’s ecological research components and contribute to the social research objectives, working with Dr Sarah Crowley and the National Trust’s wildlife management team. Key activities will include establishing and monitoring experimental plots, assessing impacts of mole activity and soil health and biodiversity, collecting data on visitor perceptions of moles and their management, and analysing findings using statistical modelling approaches. The role provides an excellent opportunity to develop independent, interdisciplinary research skills and contribute to applied work that aims to promote evidence-based wildlife management and human-wildlife coexistence.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to demonstrate experience conducting field-based ecological or environmental science research, have strong skills in statistical analysis and data management, and prepare research findings for publication. Experience of interdisciplinary research, and/or working with relevant stakeholder groups, is desirable.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall

The University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer. We are officially recognised as a Disability Confident employer and an Athena Swan accredited institution. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce. 

Further information

For further information please contact Dr Sarah Crowley, s.crowley@exeter.ac.uk

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