Post-doctoral Research Officer in Marine Ecology

Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Research Officer in Marine Ecology based in the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University. The post is fully funded by the ECOWind Programme funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, the Crown Estate and Defra via our successful ECOWind-ACCELERATE project ‘Ecological implications of accelerated seabed mobility around windfarms’.

The successful candidate will primarily work on the work package that investigates how offshore windfarms will impact the association and interaction between seabed habitat, prey availability, and foraging behaviour in seabirds. The main duties will include conducting fieldwork and analysis of data from biologging devices and other sources.

Candidates should hold PhD degrees (or be near completion) in ecology or a related discipline and have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Movement and/or spatial ecology.
• Interpretating animal movement and/or energetics from biologging data.
• Statistical modelling.
• Applied ecology.

The successful candidates will be expected to commence on 1 February 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter and the post is available until 31/01/2026.

For informal discussions about the post please contact Dr. James Waggitt via email j.waggitt@bangor.ac.uk

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance. There is an additional option to be partly based at the University of Liverpool if personal circumstances would make that case. This will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time basis. 

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website. However, in cases of access issues, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865 or via recruitment@bangor.ac.uk.

Closing date for applications: 14 October 2022.

Committed to Equal Opportunities

The city of Bangor is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the mountains of Snowdonia and the beach resorts of the North Wales coast, and offers a quality of life that surpasses that in most regions of the UK. Lying on the Euro-route to Ireland, Bangor is served by fast train services to most major cities and excellent road connections via the A55 expressway to the motorway network. Manchester and Liverpool airports are within 90 minutes away by car.

Bangor University was established in 1884 and currently has over 11,000 students. It comprises 9 Academic Schools grouped into 3 colleges. The College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Bangor University is one of the leading centres in the UK for teaching and research in biology, environmental sciences, geography, ocean sciences, chemistry, computer science and electronic engineering. The College has over 2300 students and 350 teaching and support staff, and consists of three academic schools and the BioComposites Centre.

The School of Ocean Sciences is a school within the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering.  Bangor’s research is changing the world in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences and is 1st in the UK for the impact of its research (2021 Research Excellence Framework), with Bangor research in the top 30 for societal impact in UK. With one of the largest groups of environmental scientists in the UK, our research is ranked 6th in the UK and 1st in Wales for research power. More than 150 UK universities and other research institutes were assessed in this Research Excellence Framework exercise. Our scientists are tackling climate change and addressing some of the planet’s greatest environmental issues on land and sea, such as the overuse of single-use plastics, and protecting the variety of species and ecosystems through biodiversity conservation research.

The ECOWind-ACCELERATE Project sets out a strategy to assess the seabed response to the combination of accelerated windfarm expansion and accelerated climate change, and to quantify the implications for (1) biodiversity, (2) ecosystem services, (3) habitats, and (4) interactions between seabird populations and their food. We ultimately seek to help identify opportunities that benefit the conservation of species and increase biodiversity around windfarms. We will help windfarm developers design their monitoring strategies long beyond the life-span of our project.

The Post-doctoral Research Officer in Marine Ecology will conduct fieldwork and analysis of data from biologging devices and other sources in order to contribute to the wider aims of ECOWind-ACCELERATE.

• Field work: The post holder will spend a significant amount of time in the field at Puffin Island during summer 2023 & 2024 tagging European shags and common guillemots with biologging devices. This will involve organising and assisting with tag deployments and retrievals, downloading and storing of data while in the field as well as assisting with the monitoring of the nests of tagged birds.

• Data analysis: The post holder will be predominantly responsible for data analysis. Firstly behavioural information on seabird movement and behaviour will be interpreted from biologging devices. Secondly Bayesian state space models will be used to extract information on seabird energy expenditure. Thirdly, seabird behaviour and energetics will be modelled as a function of environmental covariates in a habitat selection framework. The post holder will also be assisting with dietary analyses and/or processing data on prey abundance and distribution.

• Collaboration: the research programme. Liaising with collaborators in the project and relevant stakeholders so that outputs can be input into other Work Packages and other ECOWind projects.

• Dissemination: Regularly documenting and disseminating research results using various means including publication in high-quality journals, and presentations in professional conferences, workshops and project meetings as well as wider dissemination using e.g. social media.

• Supervision: Advising and collaborating with Masters and PhD students who may be involved with project.

• Operating and maintaining research equipment.

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.

• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.

• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions.

• The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.

• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• A PhD (or near completion) in ecology or a related discipline, or possess equivalent experience relevant to the role, and with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

       – Movement and/or spatial ecology.

       – Interpreting animal movement and/or energetics from biologging data.

       – Statistical modelling.

       – Applied ecology.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of carrying out fieldwork in remote and/or challenging environments.
• Extensive experience of processing and analysing large datasets in R.
• Advanced statistical analysis with an aptitude for learning and developing new approaches.
• Proven track record of publication of high-quality research publications.
• Proven track record of conference presentations and other dissemination.

Desirable

• Leading fieldwork in remote and/or challenging environments.
• Animal handling and deploying biologging devices, especially on birds.
• Programming and downloading biologging devices.
• Analysis of tracking and/or spatial data.
• Extraction of behaviours from biologging data.
• Knowledge of seabird associations and interactions with oceanographic processes.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a large and diverse team.
• Self-motivation: meets objectives on own initiative, committed to continuous professional development and adaptable.
• Demonstrate ability to clearly present results from quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage time effectively and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines.
• Hold a valid UK driving licence to enable access to remote sites.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the bilingual nature of the institution and area, and the ensuing responsibilities.

Desirable

• Experience in providing effective assistance in post-graduate student supervision.

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.

We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references. 

All candidates must meet the requirements of UK ‘right to work’ requirements *** If you require Home Office permission to work in the UK, or need to switch your visa status in order to take this job  we recommend you use the following link to information about the routes into employment and to check eligibility requirements:  https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Please note that we are unable to employ anyone who does not have the right to live and work in the UK legally.   When applying for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will be able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme)  from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.