Senior Post Doctoral Research Assistant - Forest Nursery Research

Part Time, 22.2 hours per week, fixed term 1^st December 2025 – 31^st March 2027  

This is a collaborative project involving Harper Adams University, a forest nursery, a growing media company, an agronomy company and a local council. We will be running both polytunnel and field-bed based trials growing native oaks in a range of sustainable growing media, replicating commercial nursery conditions to produce both cell-grown and bare-root products. The research aims to characterise the latest high sustainability alternative growing media and amendments, testing their ability to grow quality products whilst reducing input demand. Novel growing media will be compared to existing, readily available peat and peat-free media and amendments.

All growing media will be tested in both polytunnel and outdoor field trials. A range of outcomes will be measured including the germination rate, survival and growth of young trees as well as the chemical and physical properties of the media and soil over time. This will include how they react to climatic variables such as ambient temperature, irrigation, fertiliser and pesticide applications. This project will identify the optimum media to support increased tree production and resilience to the impacts of climate change, particularly increased prevalence of drought.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the practical field trials and achieving good quality data collection. They will need to take an organised, proactive and determined approach to getting field trials prepared and professionally delivered. The role will involve working with a team of professionals from different backgrounds to deliver scientifically rigorous trials so you will need to have a good ability to communicate and to work with others to identify and overcome practical challenges in the field, raising issues in a timely manner.

Management of field trials will be balanced with data analysis and writing up findings from the study so professional academic writing and data knowledge and skills will be required. Specialist knowledge of soil science and plant biology, particularly in a plant nursery context, would be a desirable attribute to support you in this work.

Experience/Qualification required:

• A PhD in a relevant discipline
• Relevant experience as a Post Doctoral Researcher or equivalent experience relevant to this field.

If you have any queries or questions or for an informal discussion, please contact Nick Covarr at ncovarr@harper-adams.ac.uk

For further information about the University or to see full job description, please visit our website at www.harper-adams.ac.uk

Application Procedure:

Please click on the above ‘Apply’ button to be redirected to our website Harper Adams e-Recruitment programme to be completed no later than midnight on Sunday 26^th October.

Should you require any adjustments to complete your application for this role then please contact vacancies@harper-adams.ac.uk      

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, please follow this link https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.

Closing Date: 26 October 2025

Interview Date: 11 November 2025

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