Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

This Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded full-time post is available from 1st December 2026 on a fixed term basis for 12 months (latest possible start date is 1st April 2027).
 
The Role

The Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to participate in an exciting new project called Ocean Carbon Soundscapes (OCS) to better understand the variability of ocean carbon fluxes using a novel acoustic method and cutting-edge artificial intelligence. 

The successful applicant will join a team of ocean and artificial intelligence scientists and take on the roll of analysing new acoustic-based ocean carbon flux datasets to understand what might be driving sub-daily changes in sinking carbon. They will lead a publication on this work. They will also be responsible for helping to collate the environmental datasets required for analysis, as well as supporting the AI-based analysis, although this aspect will be led by others in the team. They will play a major part in contributing to a Phase-Two funding proposal. The applicant will require a highly skilled background in physical or biogeochemical oceanography and/or working with remote sensing or acoustic datasets, but does not need to be an expert in artificial intelligence or machine learning (as this aspect is covered by the team). Experience in scientific paper, report and funding proposal writing would be ideal.

About You

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in oceanography or acoustics and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able toshow proficiency in handling large datasets, coding (e.g. experience of Matlab or Python), and demonstrate strong quantitative skills. Experience of one or more of the following is required: ocean dynamics, ocean biogeochemistry/carbon cycles, ocean bio-physical interactions, ocean remote sensing data, or working with acoustic backscatter data. In addition, evidence of paper writing, presentation of results and good communication will be considered advantageous. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated, creative, independent and with the ambition to learn new skills and knowledge. You will work with a highly supportive team, with members from University of Exeter, the British Antarctic Survey and the National Oceanography Center Southampton. As such, you will actively engage with the wider team and be open to sharing knowledge with others.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role. 

The closing date for applications is 7 December. 

Further information

Please contact Dr. Katy Sheen, k.l.sheen@exeter.ac.uk 

How we can help

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at hrhelpdesk@exeter.ac.uk. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process. 

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