Senior PDRA: SOB4ES - The Economic Value of Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services [Full Time, Fixed Term until 3 February 2028]

Location: TF9 8NB

Join a Horizon funded project that places an economic value on the soil biodiversity beneath our feet. The SOB4ES project runs until 3 February 2028. You will join a small and supportive team led by Prof Simon Jeffery. You will work with Prof Karl Behrendt and Dr Hairong Mu of the Harper Adams Business School. You will also work alongside a PhD student on complementary tasks.

You will lead two high-profile pieces of work. First, you will help to develop a cost-effective framework for estimating the economic value of non-market soil biodiversity contributions to ecosystem services. You will lead the modelling of uncertainty in these values. This will show how the rankings of alternative conservation efforts hold up under different conditions.

Second, you will support the prioritisation of ecosystem services for regional and national soil monitoring programmes and for restoration and conservation planning. You will lead the mapping of priority areas across large spatial scales using the Relative Aggregated Value of Ecosystem Services (RAVES) index. Stakeholder and expert input from project partners will shape the weightings. Your maps will point to the most cost-effective places to invest in soil friendly management.

There are significant opportunities to publish and to deliver real impact. You will receive academic and pastoral support, mentoring, training and career guidance throughout.

This role can be fully remote

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

If you have any queries or questions or for an informal discussion, please contact Prof Simon Jeffery at sjeffery@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 submit your CV and a personal statement outlining your suitability for the role. Your personal statement should clearly demonstrate how your skills, experience, and achievements meet the requirements outlined in the person specification. Applications without a personal statement may not be considered by no later than midnight on 18 November 2026

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

This role may be eligible for visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. If requiring visa sponsorship, it is the successful candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the individual criteria to satisfy Home Office visa sponsorship requirements. If the role is offered on a part-time basis, this might also affect eligibility. More information on eligibility can be found on the Government website.

Please note that the information provided in this advert is correct at the time of writing. The University cannot guarantee sponsorship, and we encourage you to keep up to date with any changes that the Home Office may introduce.

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