Laboratory and Field Senior Technician (Dendrochronology)

The LFST (Dendrochronology) will be a member of the small and collegial Tree-Ring Unit (TRU) at the Department of Geography. Their work will ensure the successful development of annually resolved and absolutely dated tree-ring chronologies from living and relict wood material collected at different sites between the Pyrenees in the west and the Altai in the east, with the Taurus, Pamir and Karakorum in between. The LFST will be further involved in day-to-day operation, management and maintenance of the TRU and extensive dendrochronological fieldwork campaigns in remote mountainous terrain. The LFST will work collaboratively at the interface of state-of-the-art dendrochronology and wood anatomy alongside other members of the TRU (and the wider department), under the supervision of Prof Ulf Büntgen.

Their work will ensure the successful development of annually resolved and absolutely dated tree-ring chronologies from living and relict wood material collected at different sites between the Pyrenees in the west and the Altai in the east, with the Taurus, Pamir and Karakorum in between. The LFST will be further involved in day-to-day operation, management and maintenance of the TRU and extensive dendrochronological fieldwork campaigns in remote mountainous terrain. The LFST will work collaboratively at the interface of state-of-the-art dendrochronology and wood anatomy alongside other members of the TRU (and the wider department), under the supervision of Prof Ulf Büntgen.

They will also coordinate responsive laboratory bookings and laboratory and field equipment loans services associated to the Tree-Ring Unit, ensuring that digital systems are up-to-date, and that spaces and equipment are well maintained and readily accessible to maximise research productivity. They are proactive in maintaining laboratory and field equipment of the Tree-Ring Unit, including stocking appropriate consumable items and engaging with contractors, to facilitate accuracy and precision in data collection and ensure the laboratories are a safe working environment for all.

To complement the existing TRU team, we are seeking candidates with Bachelor-degree level qualification (or equivalent experience) in Geography or related subjects such as Forestry/Ecology/Biology and a breadth of technical research skills relevant to physical geography, with specialisms in dendrochronology. Experience in developing of tree-ring chronologies from living and relict wood and cross-dating tree-ring width measurements is essential.

The role may, from time to time and by agreement, require the provision of support for fieldwork elsewhere in the UK or overseas, including out-of-hours commitments and overnight stays. Where such work takes the role-holder beyond their normal working hours, this will be compensated either by time off in lieu or paid overtime. Experience of conducting dendro fieldwork in remote mountain areas, coupled with mountaineering and climbing skills and travel experience in remote mountainous regions of Europe and Asia is essential as is fluency in Turkic languages.

Please refer to the Further Particulars for the qualifications, skills and experience required, as well as the role key responsibilities.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

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Please quote reference LC41468 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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