Opportunities

The College of Life and Environmental Sciences are pleased to announce a new post of Associate Research Fellow or Research Fellow to work with Dr Juliet Osborne on a new research project that is part of the BESS Initiative (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Sustainability). The post-holder will be based at the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus within the Environment and Sustainability Institute but will spend considerable time conducting fieldwork on and around Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

The job specification for this post and further formal details may be found by searching for the position on the University's job search web pages.

Associate Research Fellow-( R11250/P43431)- Closing date 08/06/2012

This NERC funded post is available from 1 August 2012 for a duration of four years. The successful applicant will explore the relationships between invertebrate biodiversity and pollination and pest regulation in crops, and examine how the invertebrates providing these services are affected by the proportion and type of grassland in the surrounding landscape. The multi-disciplinary project is in collaboration with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and three other institutions; with the aim of quantifying and scaling biodiversity and ecosystem service relationships across the agricultural landscape of Wessex. 

Applicants should have capabilities in processing and extracting information from spatial datasets using programming languages, Geographical Information Systems and image processing approaches. An understanding of remote sensing applications in ecology and/or urban landscapes is desirable.

The post includes design and execution of large scale field studies; data collection and analysis, and some modelling of the data. The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically.
 
Applicants will have a PhD in ecology and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in agricultural entomology (pests, natural enemies, and pollinators) and grassland biodiversity to complete the field studies. They will also show knowledge of research methods and techniques relevant to working on pollination and pest regulation. Applicants must be able to work independently, organise time and manage field assistants. A clean driving licence is also required.

Please send your CV, covering letter and the details of three referees to Dr Juliet Osborne, e-mail J.L.Osborne@exeter.ac.uk quoting the reference number R11250/P43431 in any correspondence.

For further information please contact Dr Juliet Osborne, e-mail j.l.osborne@exeter.ac.uk

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