Postdoctoral Research Officer

Applications are invited for a fixed-term, full-time Post-doctoral Research Officer post in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University to work on the HABITAT project funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The transdisciplinary project will focus on pasture biodiversity in the Kenyan Highlands. Smallholder pasture management plays an important role for biodiversity in this region. However, little is known about the effect of smallholders’ pasture management practices on pasture biodiversity or their trade-offs and synergies with climate resilience, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and livestock productivity. Adopting a multi-and transdisciplinary approach, we will investigate these interrelationships and stimulate citizen science and farmer to farmer scaling, complemented by modelling of the potential bottlenecks and opportunities to greater use of these practices. The project team combines expertise in farm-scale estimation of GHG emissions and economic modelling (Bangor University), social science, animal husbandry and production (ILRI) and pasture diversity (University of Eldoret). The successful candidate will integrate existing models of farm management & emissions combined with field data collection from households and biophysical data. There is also large scope for model development.

The successful candidate will be expected to meet online regularly with other project members in Kenya and to travel to Kenya. Their main responsibility will be to design, carry out and publish the interdisciplinary research proposed for the HABITAT project, and potentially seek additional funding to expand the research program.

This post is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious individual to demonstrate leadership in high-impact research. We seek an interactive, driven and talented individual with a strong interest in multi-disciplinary research.

Candidates should have a PhD (or equivalent) or be near completion of PhD in agricultural sciences, biological sciences, computer science or a related subject. Candidates must have published (or have in press) a minimum of 2 peer-reviewed papers in ISI accredited journals. An understanding of the subject area of this research is also necessary. Experience of LCA, model development or emissions modelling and working in interdisciplinary teams is highly desirable.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible and the post is available up to 30 November 2026.

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework , there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Dr James Gibbons, Senior Lecturer in Ecological Modelling, email: [email protected]

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Closing date for applications: 8th April 2024

Committed to Equal Opportunities

The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences is one of the leading centres in the UK for teaching and research in environmental sciences, natural resources, soil science, molecular ecology, conservation, zoology, and forestry. We offer a suite of Conservation degrees at undergraduate level (including Environmental Conservation, Wildlife Conservation, Zoology with Conservation, and Forestry with Conservation), a MSc programme in Conservation and Land Management and in 2024, a MSc in programme Wildlife Conservation.   The School is part of the College of Science and Engineering along with Ocean Sciences and Computer Science and Engineering, and the BioComposites Centre.

Bangor University is perfectly located for teaching conservation science and related subjects. We have easy access to Snowdonia National Park and the stunning coastline of the Menai Straits and Ynys Mon and make the most of our incredible surroundings in our teaching. The University’s botanic garden at Treborth and our research farm at Henfaes also provide fantastic facilities for field and lab teaching. The gardens cover 30 acres of high canopy forest including ancient woodland, as well as species-rich natural grasslands and maintain collections of more than 2000 species of plants across seven glasshouses replicating tropical and subtropical habitats. The University’s research farm at Henfaes is unique in that the land goes from the sea to amongst the highest mountains in Wales, giving great diversity of habitats, land uses, climates, and geology on one farm.

The HABITAT Project

The highlands of Kenya comprise some of the most biodiverse regions of the world In Kenya, tropical highland regions account for only 11% of the total land area, but are home to the majority of the country’s population. These regions, however, are under significant threat to land degradation as a result of human-induced climate change, land-use change, and the unsustainable use of the natural resources.

Dominating the landscape in densely populated areas of the East African highlands are smallholder livestock farms practicing extensive and semi-intensive farming, often relying on semi-natural grasslands and managed pastures for feeding their livestock. These farms are critical to the ecological dynamics of these ecosystems. Smallholder farms account for 80% of all farms in Kenya and pasture accounts from 53% to 100% of feed intake by cattle.

Despite the significant research focus on livestock-rangeland dynamics in Kenya, the interplay between biodiversity, livestock and pastures on smallholder farms in the highlands remains largely unexplored. This research gap necessitates a thorough investigation of the ecological and economic implications of pasture management in these biodiverse and vulnerable areas. Semi-natural grasslands are grasslands that have not received significant fertilizer or herbicide inputs, but are often used for grazing livestock. Managed pastures are areas of land that are maintained and managed purposefully for livestock grazing.

The research context and problems have informed the following key questions.

• Which current smallholder dairy farming pasture management practices are correlated with improved biodiversity and soil health, reduced GHG emission intensities, and increased productivity?
• How much does vegetative biodiversity contribute to the improved climate resilience of pastures?
• What are the trade-offs among biodiversity, soil health, production, and GHG emission intensity indicators for different pasture management practices?
• What characterizes positive deviance at a smallholder farm household level in terms of biodiverse and climate resilient pasture management?
• What are the potential benefits at the national and regional level for out-scaling biodiverse, climate resilient pastures?

The overall aim of the post holder is to generate exciting research and associated impact in the area of pasture biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. The Research Officer will focus their work around the HABITAT research questions; they will have a large degree of freedom to bring project objectives into action. The fellow will be responsible for work packages on modelling the relationships between data collected and will also be expected to make a substantial contribution to project management. The relative effort allocated to tasks can be adjusted to suit expertise and interests.

In collaboration with the HABITAT personnel, the post holder will take a key role in designing and coordinating modelling work and the data collection required for the modelling. They will engage in liaising with external partners of the HABITAT project and will be expected to generate wide impact for HABITAT through leading high-impact publications and by presenting at national and international meetings and conferences.

This post is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious individual to demonstrate potential for leadership in high-impact research. We seek an interactive, driven and talented individual with a strong interest in inter-disciplinary research. You must have or will be shortly awarded a PhD and 2 publications in peer-reviewed journals. You should have a background in a relevant discipline e.g. biological sciences, economics, computer science or a related subject. You must have significant experience with modelling and advanced data analysis. Experience of life cycle assessment, model development or greenhouse gas emissions and working in interdisciplinary teams is highly desirable. Evidence of experience with research student supervision and GIS are desirable, but not essential.

It is important to us that you are a keen team worker and that you enjoy interacting with and co-supervising research students. It is equally important that you have a capacity for independent innovation in models and that you are comfortable with making independent decisions when the situation requires it.

• Designing and leading modelling to target emerging research questions. This will involve acquiring and maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the scientific literature related to the research aims of the project; identifying data needs; assimilating emerging project findings and and liaising with project partners to create joint models and modelling relationships between biophysical and socioeconomic data.
• Dissemination. Leading publications and conference presentations; working with project partners to create joint publications and to disseminate results to project stakeholders; assisting the PI with updates to the HABITAT group and at project meetings; assisting with writing project reports to the sponsors.
• Contribute on grant applications that seek to expand on the scope and impact of HABITAT.
• Administration of the Bangor HABITAT activities, including: coordinating project field campaigns and laboratory activities, maintaining experiments and monitoring that the aims and objectives of these research activities are achieved; organising project meetings; and liaising with project partners and stakeholders.
• Gathering, storing and analysing project data. This will include: organising and participating in modelling; collating and entering in databases project data and historical datasets from project partners; analysing and monitoring the quality of emerging data.
• Financial book-keeping of the budget controlled by the fellow. Including: budgeting costs of research campaigns, purchase of equipment and consumables; budgeting costs of meetings and conference attendances; maintaining and monitoring records of project spending.
• Assisting with the daily supervision of undergraduate, MSc and PhD students that collaborate within the HABITAT research programme.

• The post holder will be expected to participate in departmental performance reviews and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• A PhD (or equivalent) or be hear completion of PhD in agricultural sciences, biological sciences, computer science or a related subject.
• Training in modelling and data analysis.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• A minimum of 2 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Track record of designing, organising and undertaking model-based research.
• Experience with advanced data analysis and modelling.
• Track record of collaborative/team research.

Desirable

• Experience of model development.
• Knowledge of life cycle assessment.
• Experience with writing grant proposals.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, including publishing in quality peer review journals and conference presentations.
• Proficiency in modelling and analysis of research data.
• Organisational skills: research co-ordination, data collection and filing.
• Willingness to co-supervise affiliated research students.
• A willingness and ability to travel to Kenya on occasion.

Desirable

• Experience of statistics & GIS.
• Experience of research student supervision.
• The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally. 

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. 

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact. 

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.  

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.  When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.   If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa.   The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas .   If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.      

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme)  from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme . 

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.