Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Organic Geochemistry

The role

We are seeking to appoint a fixed-term full-time Research Associate or Senior Research Associate with experience in organic geochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry, and/or culturing phytoplankton. The project will begin around November 2026 and will run for 17-19 months.

The postholder will be embedded in a research team led by Dr Caitlyn Witkowski within the Organic Geochemistry Unit, a world-leading research group in the field of organic geochemistry. Information on our policies and strategy is available on our websites, and we strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Please include a full academic CV and a brief cover letter (1-page) that includes i) a statement on how this post will build on your previous experience and what you will bring to this project. For further information, see:

OGU: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/chemistry/research/ogu/

University of Bristol: https://www.bristol.ac.uk

What will you be doing?

The project aims are to understand how carbon is taken up during photosynthesis, specifically how photoautotrophic phytoplankton fractionate and biosynthesis carbon, with implications for understanding the evolution of phytoplankton and how CO2 has changed across geologic time.

You will be responsible for designing and conducting continuous culturing experiments using a chemostat bioreactor. Following the experiments, you will extract and analyse the phytoplankton lipids using analytical instrumentation (GC-FID, GC-MS, GC-C-IRMS, HPLC-MS). The aim is to identify the relationship between environmental conditions (e.g., CO2, light, pH) with the amount of stable carbon fractionation observed in the phytoplankton lipid suite. You will communicate the findings from this project to the relevant research communities through the use of scientific conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

You will have opportunities to explore a wide range of organic geochemistry and biosynthesis questions, present at international conferences, develop your own scientific and interdisciplinary ideas, and work with both local and international collaborators. You will be supported to take on leadership opportunities (e.g., student supervision) and have the freedom and resources to build your own career portfolio (e.g., via workshops, training, etc).

You should apply if

We are preferably looking for someone with:

• A good honours degree (or equivalent) in PhD in Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biology, Geography, or relevant subject
• A PhD in Chemistry, Organic Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Geomicrobiology, Biology, or related disciplines
• The ability to pro-actively and creatively implement wet chemistry and instrumental solutions to complex problems
• Relevant experience of designing and implementing laboratory experiments, preferably analysing the lipid content in phytoplankton
• Experience with environmental isotopes
• Evidence of effective science communication through publications of scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals
• Evidence of effective science communication through (inter)national conference presentations
• Experience of liaison with (external) collaborators and organisations
• Evidence for involvement in outreach activities
• Appointment at the Senior Research Associate level will require previous experience in research and (under)graduate supervision at PDRA level or equivalent industry-level, as well as experience in leading independent project management

Additional information

Contract type: Fixed term until 06/08/2027

Work pattern: 1 FTE/35 hours per week

Salary: £39,906 - £44,746 (Grade I) £44,746 - £50, 253 (Grade J) Per annum

School/Unit: School of Earth Sciences 

Shift pattern: Monday - Friday

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 29th October

For informal queries please contact: Caitlyn Witkowski, caitlyn.witkowski@bristol.ac.uk

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

Please apply via the ‘Apply’ button above.

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