Senior Research Associate in Soil Biogeochemistry and Molecular Biology

The role

An exceptional opportunity exists for a Senior Research Associate (SRA), in Soil Biogeochemistry and Molecular Biology, to join the internationally renowned Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU) at the University of Bristol (48 month, fixed-term). You will be working on a groundbreaking new Leverhulme-funded project entitled ‘Determination of mechanistic controls on microbial organic nitrogen biosynthesis and transformations in natural and agrarian environments’. This offers an exciting prospect for a suitably qualified applicant to advance their career and greatly enhance their skills using a suite of cutting-edge research technologies. The project will use compound specific stable isotope (SIP) and molecular biology methodologies (genomics, transcriptomics) to investigate the microbial regulation of proteinaceous amino acid biosynthesis in soils. Using a natural land-use gradient, the role holder will elucidate fundamental controls on biosynthesis and transformation within the soil microbial protein pool. This will elucidate how the biosynthesis of soil organic nitrogen, which underpins plant nitrogen supply and nitrogen losses, may be exploited to improve the health of our soils. This is a rare opportunity where you will apply your skills to conduct impactful, internationally competitive science as part of a world-leading research group. 

What will you be doing?

The SRA will: 

• utilise methodologies for the isolation of discrete compounds/compound classes (primarily but not limited to amino acids); 

• undertake extensive training in hyphenated mass spectrometric techniques (including stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry), molecular biological approaches (genomics, transcriptomics) and coding (R, Python etc.); 

• use compound specific and bulk isotope analysis to determine the flow of N in soils; 

• work with project collaborators to incorporate the outputs from the above into a combined overview of N-cycling within a range soil environments and how it relates to the SMC and the various functional roles that it supports; 

• lead the writing and publication of a suite of journal articles reporting the outcomes from the project,; 

• attend conferences and engage with government agencies/NGOs to disseminate the findings of this project; 

• support two PhD students and liaise with project collaborators to further the project goals. 

You should apply if

• You will have a degree in a relevant subject (chemistry, environmental chemistry, environmental science or related subject) and a PhD in biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry or analytical chemistry (or equivalent) or equivalent professional experience in the research area required. 

• Experience in the isolation of organic compounds from natural matrices and use of hyphenated mass spectrometric techniques (GC-MS, LC-MS, GC-C-IRMS etc.) to characterise complex mixtures of organics. 

• Experience of experimental design and data analysis techniques (including R-coding) are also desirable. 

• You have clear and concise writing skills, and are keen to publish your research. 

• You are an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, an ability and tenacity to solve sometimes complex analytical problems.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 31/12/2029 

Work pattern: Full time

Grade: Grade J/Pathway 2

Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum

School/Unit: School of Chemistry

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 03/12/25

The interviews are expected to take place shortly after the advert closes.

For informal queries, please contact: Ian Bull, Professor of Analytical Chemistry +44 (0)117 455 8983, ian.d.bull@bristol.ac.uk

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