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Postdoctoral Research Assistant (United Kingdom)

Job purpose: To conduct high-quality basic research to meet the scientific objectives of the COVID-19 Bio-logging Initiative project. Deadline to apply: priority by 5/18/2021.

Background

The Marine Biological Association (www.mba.ac.uk) is an independent research institute carrying out leading-edge research in fundamental and strategic areas of marine biology.  As one of the world’s longest running learned societies (founded in 1884), the MBA is dedicated to promoting research into our oceans and the life that they support. Many eminent scientists, including twelve Nobel Prize winners, have conducted their research at the MBA’s Citadel Hill laboratory. With our Royal Charter and over 1,900 members in 40+ countries worldwide, we have the mandate to provide an authoritative and independent voice for the international marine biological community.

The Role

A new opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to undertake high-quality basic research to meet the scientific objectives of the COVID-19 Bio-logging Initiative project funded by a Moore Foundation Grant. The role offers the opportunity to work on a high-profile international project under the guidance of a marine biology topic team and within the COVID-19 Bio-logging Initiative that comprises leading terrestrial and marine scientists from across the globe. The MBA-based PDRA will complement and collaborate with two further project-funded PDRAs based at the University of St. Andrews, UK and at the Edmund Mach Foundation, Italy. Further details on the rationale of the COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative are available here.

The dramatic changes in human behaviour during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic (the ‘Anthropause’) has been recognised as a unique natural experiment to assess the influence of human activities on animal populations. The marine project of the International Bio-logging Society’s COVID-19 Initiative aims to take advantage of changes of human activity in the marine realm to further our understanding of marine animal behaviour and the responses of marine species to differing levels of activity.

Specifically, the PDRA’s role will be to conduct research in collaboration with the project team to meet the project’s marine scientific objectives centred on understanding whether (i) marine animals spend more time in normally busy traffic corridors or areas of high fishing effort, (ii) if use of coastal regions changed in response to nearshore human activity, and (iii) whether distribution and behaviour of marine animals was influenced by associated reductions in marine sound. The research will use existing datasets of marine animals including fish, turtles, seabirds and marine mammals to test these ideas.

Salary and Benefits

  • Salary will be based on experience
  • The MBA will contribute 10% of your basic salary into a defined benefits pension scheme.  You are required to make a 3% minimum contribution.  You can contribute over the 3% minimum and the MBA will match up to a maximum of 5%
  • Annual Leave allowance is 30 days plus bank holidays/privilege days (pro-rata if part time)

Key Responsibilities Include:

  • Collate marine data from project partners and external collaborators with support from the project team where necessary
  • Maintain and manage data resources in project approved database(s)
  • Conduct primary research by leading data analysis with support and contributions from the project team
  • Prepare research paper drafts for publication with support and contributions from the project team
  • Present results of research at national and international meetings where necessary
  • Engage in group meetings to progress project objectives
  • Prepare project report drafts and organise inputs from the wider project team
  • Undertake ad hoc tasks identified as being within the job holder’s capabilities

Essential Skills/Qualifications

  • PhD in marine biology, biology, computational biology or related discipline
  • Experience of working with large datasets
  • Experience of programming for data synthesis and analysis
  • Skills in statistical analysis
  • Demonstrated experience in writing and publishing scientific papers
  • Be personable and able to communicate with wide variety of collaborators
  • High attention to detail

Desirable Skills/Qualifications

  • Experience of working with large datasets of animal movement
  • Previous experience working on global-scale ecology projects
  • Experience in developing analyses for diverse data types
  • Previous experience working in a research team
  • Knowledge of marine vertebrate ecology, e.g. fish, seabirds or marine mammals
  • Experience of using human mobility (e.g. shipping) data in ecological analysis

The Postdoctoral Research Assistant will be based at the Marine Biological Association of the UK in Plymouth, but may be expected to travel to meetings and workshops as needed.

For further information, please contact Prof David Sims (dws@mba.ac.uk)

Full details including job description can be found here https://www.mba.ac.uk/vacancies

Equal Opportunities

  • We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships

How to Apply:

For more information, click here.

To apply please send a covering letter and CV with details of 2 referees to hr@mba.ac.uk, (reference PDRA Sims application) one of which must be your current employer.

The covering letter should:

  • outline your previous and most relevant experience
  • explain why you are right for the role

Please confirm where you saw the vacancy advertised

Closing date: 18 June 2021

Interviews will take place the week of: 30 June 2021

Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK