Marine Ecosystem Modeller (Research Associate)
Job Description
Salary: £37,694 – £39,906 per annum
FTE:1 (35 hours/week)
Term: Fixed to 31 July 2029
Closing: 8 June 2026
Do you have a passion for the oceans and marine conservation issues? Are you a proficient R-coder? Do you have a background in applied mathematics and statistics? Do you want to further your career in a leading marine ecological modelling team?You could join the marine modelling group in the Department ofMathematics and Statistics to work on the UKRI funded VALMAS(VALuing Maring Artificial Structures) project(). You will be responsible formodelling the ecosystem-scale effects of Marine ArtificialStructures (MAS) alongside climate change and other humanactivities, especially fishing, in the North Sea. This project usesthe StrathE2E marine ecosystem model().
As a Research Associate, under the general guidance of aresearch leader, you will develop research objectives andproposals, play a lead role in the ecosystem modelling under theVALMAS project, conduct individual and/or collaborativeresearch, contribute to the development of new researchmethods, identify sources of funding, and contribute to thesecuring of funds for research, including drafting grant proposalsand planning for future proposals. You will write up researchwork for publication, individually or in collaboration withcolleagues, and disseminate the results via peer reviewedjournal publications and presentation at conferences. You willjoin external networks to share information and ideas, inform thedevelopment of research objectives and to identify potentialsources of funding. You will collaborate with colleagues toensure that research advances inform departmental teachingeffort and you will collaborate with colleagues on thedevelopment of knowledge exchange activities by, for example,participating in initiatives which establish research links withindustry and influence public policy and the professions. You willsupervise student projects, provide advice to students andcontribute to teaching as required by, for example, runningtutorials and supervising practical work. You will contribute in adeveloping capacity to Department/School, Faculty and/orUniversity administrative and management functions andcommittees and engage in continuous professional development.To be considered for the role, you will be educated to a minimumof PhD level in an appropriate discipline, or have significantrelevant experience in addition to a relevant degree. You willhave sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in marine ecologyand modelling and a developing ability to conduct individualresearch work, to disseminate results and to prepare researchproposals. You will have an ability to plan and organise your ownworkload effectively and an ability to work within a teamenvironment. You will have excellent interpersonal andcommunication skills, with the ability to listen, engage andpersuade, and to present complex information in an accessibleway to a range of audiences.
Whilst not essential for the role, applications are welcomed fromcandidates with: relevant work experience, membership ofrelevant Chartered/professional bodies (including the HigherEducation Academy), experience of relevant student supervisionand teaching activities, and/or experience of knowledgeexchange related activities.
Whilst a Post-Doctoral Research Associate is ideally sought forthis position; applications from candidates who are close to PhDcompletion or whose award is pending, are welcome. In suchcircumstances, the appointment will be made at ResearchAssistant level (grade 6) and duties will be adjusted to reflect thegrade of the post. This will continue until the PhD award isconfirmed, at which point the duties and grade will be revisedaccordingly.
Informal enquiries about the postcan be directed to Dr Jack Laverick,Chancellor’s Fellow in Statistics andData Science ().
