Postdoctoral Research Associate

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate to co-ordinate and
undertake a programme of research as part of a new project entitled ‘A
Biodiversity Baseline for the Begbroke Innovation District’. Our project will
focus on the site of a major new infrastructure project near Oxford comprising
an expanded Science Park alongside new homes, schools, businesses, community
facilities and public green space. This development provides a unique
opportunity for impactful research on implementing sustainable infrastructure
and housing developments, including their potential to achieve nature
recovery.





Working with the Principal Investigators and assisted by a small team of
assistants, you will finalise data collection strategy and protocols, and
collect and analyse data on key components of biodiversity at the site. This
baseline will provide the essential template and platform for future re-
surveys during and through the life of the development, allowing a robust
assessment of the University’s commitments to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain.
Your work will involve planning, organising and executing a programme of
fieldwork to sample and quantify selected components of biodiversity and
relevant abiotic variables on the Begbroke site; preparation, identification
and archiving of samples; and associated data and sample management curation
and analysis. You will also work closely with other teams on how best to
translate this biodiversity monitoring framework into guidance that is
immediately useful to the ongoing management and monitoring of biodiversity on
other parts of the University’s green estate.





You will hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil in a relevant
subject, or have substantial equivalent research experience, as well as strong
natural history skills, including the ability to identify, and design field
monitoring protocols for, relevant UK plant and animal taxa. You will be
expected to contribute to preparing research outputs for publication as well
as overseeing and co-ordinating the day-to-day work of fieldwork assistants.





The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All
applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.





This post is full time and available immediately for a fixed-term period until
31 October 2025 with the potential to extend to a 19-month tenure subject to
funding. We will also consider applicants seeking part time work, a shorter
contract term, or job-share arrangements. This will be discussed with
applicants at interview and/or appointment where appropriate.





Informal enquiries should be addressed to Prof Owen Lewis
(owen.lewis@biology.ox.ac.uk).





The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Tuesday 25 June 2024.
Interviews are likely to be scheduled for early July 2024.