Research Scientist - Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS)

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Scientist to join our team in the School of Biodiversity, One Health &Veterinary Medicine.

The successful candidate will undertake high-quality research within the University of Glasgow’s Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), one of the longest-running marine mammal disease surveillance systems in the world. For over thirty years SMASS has investigated the health and mortality of whales, dolphins, seals and other marine animals around Scotland’s coast, and the postholder would become an integral part of that work.

Working with the Principal Investigator, the postholder will apply specialist scientific knowledge and independent investigation to the capture, structuring, visualisation and analysis of marine mammal strandings and pathology data, making a leading contribution to the scheme’s research outputs, publications, funding applications and collaborative activities.

At Grade 7, the postholder will apply advanced specialist expertise to develop research methodologies, demonstrate a growing external research profile, and contribute to research leadership, supervision and wider academic activities.

The postholder will support two complementary strands of work. The first is operational and analytical: leading the maintenance and continued development of the SMASS strandings database, necropsy portal and sample archives, overseeing the BeachTrack mobile application and its supporting data infrastructure, and producing the analysis, visualisations and outputs required for reporting, outreach and communication. The second is providing technical input to the LIFE CIBBRiNA project, scoping a harmonised, web-accessible database for sharing marine mammal and ETP (Endangered, Threatened and Protected) species strandings and bycatch data, in collaboration with the International Whaling Commission (IWC), ASCOBANS and European partners.

Beyond this core remit, the post offers scope to engage with the full breadth of SMASS activities, including strandings coordination and response, post-mortem examination, volunteer support, knowledge exchange and outreach. It will suit someone with a genuine interest in marine mammal pathology and the fieldwork that underpins it, and will include attendance at strandings and post-mortems.

The primary place of work for this role will be Glasgow. Flexible working arrangements may be considered for candidates based elsewhere in Scotland, subject to business requirements and the ability to attend and respond to stranding events as required. The University also has a base near Inverness, and consideration may be given to candidates wishing to be based there. However, applicants should be aware that the role will require regular travel to Glasgow.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) and has funding available for up to 15 months.

For enquiries regarding this post please contact Dr Andrew Brownlow, Andrew.Brownlow@glasgow.ac.uk

For more information and to apply please click the 'Apply' button above.

Closing Date: 12 October 2026 23:45

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/ 

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/

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