Post Doctoral Research Assistant, Marine Ecology

Job description

Salary Range:

£39,906.00 - £46,049.00

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, creating a community where colleagues feel respected and valued. We aim to reflect the diversity of our students and communities, and to strengthen our university through collaboration and diverse perspectives, across all roles at the University.

Background and Context
The postholder will join a team led by Dr Krysia Mazik to work on a four year NERC-funded project: Benthic Offshore Wind Interactions Evaluation (BOWIE), as part of the NERC / Crown Estate ECOWind Programme (https://ecowind.uk/). This project is a collaboration between the Universities of Southampton, Hull and East Anglia, together with the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Centre for Fisheries and Aquacultural Science (CEFAS). We will explore the impacts of physical disturbance, pile driving-induced vibration and alteration of marine habitats on benthic (seabed-dwelling) species, against a background of increasing pressure arising from climate change and bottom trawling. Data generated from field and laboratory studies will feed into models which will be used to inform decision support tools to facilitate the consenting process for offshore windfarm development.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the post
The PDRA will contribute to the design of and be responsible for the set-up and conduct of aquarium-based experiments to understand the impacts of pile driving and the associated vibrations and underwater sound on marine benthic invertebrates. They may also have a wider (but minor) role in supporting other research and teaching activities within SES. Specifically, they will:
• Take the lead on aquarium-based experimental work using behavioural and physiological assays
• Maintain, calibrate and continue to develop our existing experimental set-up for generating and measuring impulsive and continuous sound and vibration.
• Maintain and manage data sets and carry out statistical analyses
• Contribute to field work
• Participate in wider project team, project partner and stakeholder meetings
• Disseminate project findings to the wider scientific community through publications and conference presentations.
• Support wider research (particularly that relating to marine ecology and offshore wind) and teaching (e.g. assistance with project supervision, field trips, with the opportunity to do some lecturing) within the school of Environmental Sciences.

#INT

Background and Context

The postholder will join a team led by Dr Krysia Mazik to work on a four year NERC-funded project: Benthic Offshore Wind Interactions Evaluation (BOWIE), as part of the NERC / Crown Estate ECOWind Programme (https://ecowind.uk/). This project is a collaboration between the Universities of Southampton, Hull and East Anglia, together with the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Centre for Fisheries and Aquacultural Science (CEFAS). We will explore the impacts of physical disturbance, pile driving-induced vibration and alteration of marine habitats on benthic (seabed-dwelling) species, against a background of increasing pressure arising from climate change and bottom trawling. Data generated from field and laboratory studies will feed into models which will be used to inform decision support tools to facilitate the consenting process for offshore windfarm development.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the post

The PDRA will contribute to the design of and be responsible for the set-up and conduct of aquarium-based experiments to understand the impacts of pile driving and the associated vibrations and underwater sound on marine benthic invertebrates. They may also have a wider (but minor) role in supporting other research and teaching activities within SES. Specifically, they will:

• Take the lead on aquarium-based experimental work using behavioural and physiological assays
• Maintain, calibrate and continue to develop our existing experimental set-up for generating and measuring impulsive and continuous sound and vibration.
• Maintain and manage data sets and carry out statistical analyses
• Contribute to field work
• Participate in wider project team, project partner and stakeholder meetings
• Disseminate project findings to the wider scientific community through publications and conference presentations.
• Support wider research (particularly that relating to marine ecology and offshore wind) and teaching (e.g. assistance with project supervision, field trips, with the opportunity to do some lecturing) within the school of Environmental Sciences.

Applications close at 00:01am of the closing date listed. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. If you are interested in this role, please submit your application as early as possible.