Research Assistant Stuck in the Mud Project

Full-time fixed-term position, (18-months starting 1st November 2025).

The Geography and Environment department within the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough University is seeking to appoint a full-time research assistant to work on a project entitled ‘Stuck in the mud: addressing the fine sediment conundrum with multiscale and interdisciplinary approaches to support global freshwater biodiversity’.

The project is UKRI funded, through the Future Leaders Fellowship scheme. It is an interdisciplinary project sitting at the interface of aquatic ecology, fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and sedimentology engaging with academic and stakeholder project partners in the UK and globally.  

The research assistant will play a key role in the project which will quantify and develop a mechanistic understanding of how environmental controls drive fine sediment impacts for freshwater biota. Fine sediment (typically defined as particles <2mm) deposition in riverine ecosystems represents a critical human-induced threat to global freshwater diversity.

Despite the extent and magnitude of this threat we lack fundamental knowledge about the mechanisms controlling the ecological effects of fine sediment; vital knowledge needed to underpin the implementation of effective global river management strategies. The overall objective of the project is to identify, examine and quantify the primary abiotic and biotic controls influencing the ecosystem effects of instream sedimentation.

The research assistants’ main responsibilities will be to undertake macroinvertebrate sample processing in the laboratory including picking of invertebrates from the samples and subsequent identification, processing of sedimentological samples, to input processed data into spreadsheets and to attend internal meetings. Knowledge of macroinvertebrate processing and identification would be advantageous. The applicant will benefit from opportunities to undertake laboratory experiments and to contribute to the publication process (writing or data analysis).

The research assistant will work closely with PI Dr. Kate Mathers (Geography and Environment) but will benefit from working within the wider interdisciplinary team tackling aquatic biodiversity challenges.

For more information refer to the full Job Description and Person Specification.

Informal enquiries should be made by email to Dr. Kate Mathers, Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, k.mathers@lboro.ac.uk.

Closing date for receipt of applications is: 9th September 2025

Interviews will be held on w/c : 13th October 2025

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