Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

This full time post is available immediately on a 4 month fixed term basis.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support the work of Dr. Katy Sheen. This NERC funded post is available immediately for approximately four months. The successful applicant will work on an exciting project which aims to assess if standard oceanographic acoustic current meter data can be used to estimate oceanic carbon fluxes at much higher temporal resolutions than more traditional methods such as sediment traps. If successful, this work will improve the ability to understand and predict the future carbon storage capacity of the ocean and hence the Earth's climate.

The post will include analysis of an exemplar data set of both sediment-trap and acoustic backscatter data collected in the Southern Ocean. The aim will be to validate if standard oceanographic acoustic current meter data can be novelly repurposed to capture particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes and produce a one-year timeseries of high-resolution POC estimates at unprecedented (hourly) resolutions in the Scotia Sea. Duties will also include the dissemination of results, for example, through presentation at a conference, production of a peer reviewed paper and provision of analysis routines on a freely available platform.  

The position will be co-supervised by Dr. Sari Giering at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, UK, and Dr. Clara Manno and Dr. Sophie Fielding both based at the British Antarctic Survey, UK.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline of particulate organic carbon ocean fluxes and their measurement. Data analysis and academic report writing skills are essential. Experience of working with POC data-sets such as from sediment traps or optical data, and/or acoustic current meter or backscatter data is highly desirable.

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

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 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 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 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

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 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 and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr. Katy Sheen, e-mail [email protected] or telephone (01326) 255532.