The Centre for Ecology and Conservation wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to conduct research into marine forest assemblages. The successful candidate will review existing knowledge on a range of marine forest assemblages, anthropogenic-induced changes, and the ecosystem services they provide. This information will be distributed to project partners as metadata to inform knowledge gaps and research needs. The candidate will also lead or support a historical baseline assessment on marine forest assemblages in Tenerife to delve deeper into the magnitude and drivers of ecological changes observed over the past decades. This position will contribute to the Horizon Europe funded project OCEAN CITIZEN: Marine forest coastal restoration: an underwater gardening socio-ecological plan (ref: 101093910). This project aims to develop an innovative and sustainable protocol for the restoration and conservation of marine coastal biodiversity. The funded post is available immediately until 31 Dec 2024, with the possibility of extension for a further three months. It will be based at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus.

‘Marine forests’ is a term for marine biotic assemblages that contribute to benthic structural complexity and thus support the presence of other species, these include seagrasses, seaweeds, sponges, corals, and gorgonians, among others. The successful applicant will (i) collate and synthesize current knowledge on the ecological health of certain marine forest organisms, and (ii) conduct an assessment of historical changes to the marine coastal ecosystem of Punta Blanca, Tenerife, a key case study site. The applicant will work under the supervision of Dr Ruth Thurstan and with external partners across Europe and in Tenerife.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess (or be close to completion of) a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in marine ecosystem science or on specific marine forest assemblages, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. They will be confident conducting reviews and meta-analyses or historical analyses and have published research in internationally-recognised journals.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.

Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

For further information please contact Dr Ruth Thurstan, e-mail r.thurstan@exeter.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1326 255384.