Specialist Technician

We are seeking a 3-year research technician to join the Watershed Carbon lab (https://watershedcarbonlab.weebly.com/ ) at the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol. The technician will join the team led by Dr Josh Dean, working primarily on the Defra funded Lowland Peatland 3 project, but with opportunities to contribute to multiple projects that range from greenhouse gas emissions to soil hydrogen uptake.

The position will deliver specialist technical work relating to greenhouse gase measurements in peatlands and aquatic systems, both continuous in-field measurements and discrete sampling and analysis in the lab. The projects are well resourced and there will be opportunities to travel to field locations across the UK and Europe. While not expected to, the technician will be given opportunities to contribute to research outcomes and develop their own research skills specific to the individual’s goals (including opportunities for further development and other pathways into a research career).

You will be a key member of the research team and wider School of Geography Research Laboratories, contributing general lab and fieldwork management, supporting and contributing to a range of analysis techniques such as gas chromatography, cavity ringdown spectrometry in field conditions, and tools and methods for measuring gases in aquatic environments.

The successful candidate will contribute primarily to research projects on peatlands in the UK, and mainly quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from experimental peat-carbon management site in the Somerset levels. The candidate will also contribute to research projects that are quantifying soil hydrogen uptake to directly inform UK policy and decision making on using hydrogen as an alternative energy source in the future, and quantifying methane dynamics in urban rivers in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia to directly contribute to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. These will include tasks such as:

• Working with the research team to provide specialist work and plan research approaches in lab and field environments. 
• Developing and undertaking sample collection and analysis, ensuring a high level of quality control.
• Engaging with research goals and needs within a team environment.
• Operating, servicing, maintaining and calibrating specialist equipment in lab and field conditions.
• Contributing to local (single day) and national and international (multi-day) field campaigns.
• Diagnose and rectify complex problems to find short and long-term solutions.
• Sourcing and maintaining stocks of lab materials and consumables, as well as input into larger and more specialist purchases, liaising with relevant contacts and suppliers.
• Writing risk assessments and method statements/standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring compliance with all relevant guidelines.
• Training others in specialist techniques, processes and procedures where necessary.
• Respond independently using initiative and judgement to find and offer solutions.
• Exploring ways to develop your own research career.

You have:

• Experience of fieldwork in the broad field of biogeochemistry.
• Experience of labwork in the broad field of biogeochemistry.
• Experience operating, maintaining and problem-solving technical equipment in a scientific environment.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to deal with and prioritise a range of ongoing tasks at the same time.

• Ability to review and advise on complex procedures.
• Ability to work independently towards pre-defined goals.
• An innovative approach to work.

• Relevant qualifications at GCSE, or NVQ level 2/3, or equivalent level, plus relevant work experience.
• It would also be desirable if you have a relevant qualification at degree or equivalent level.
• It would be desirable if you have experience working with greenhouse gas measurements and/or gas geochemistry.
• It would be desirable if you have A valid UK or EU drivers license. 

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding for 3 years

Work pattern: Full time (part-time negotiable)

Grade: G

Salary: £29,605 – £32,982 per annum

School/Unit: School of Geographical Sciences

Internally job title is known as Level 1 Specialist Technician (Research Facility) 

The anticipated interview date will be 19/07/24

This advert will close at23:59 UK timeon 09/07/24

For informal queries, please contact Josh Dean, [email protected]

We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Available documents

We are seeking a 3-year research technician to join the Watershed Carbon lab (https://watershedcarbonlab.weebly.com/ ) at the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol. The technician will join the team led by Dr Josh Dean, working primarily on the Defra funded Lowland Peatland 3 project, but with opportunities to contribute to multiple projects that range from greenhouse gas emissions to soil hydrogen uptake.

The position will deliver specialist technical work relating to greenhouse gase measurements in peatlands and aquatic systems, both continuous in-field measurements and discrete sampling and analysis in the lab. The projects are well resourced and there will be opportunities to travel to field locations across the UK and Europe. While not expected to, the technician will be given opportunities to contribute to research outcomes and develop their own research skills specific to the individual’s goals (including opportunities for further development and other pathways into a research career).

You will be a key member of the research team and wider School of Geography Research Laboratories, contributing general lab and fieldwork management, supporting and contributing to a range of analysis techniques such as gas chromatography, cavity ringdown spectrometry in field conditions, and tools and methods for measuring gases in aquatic environments.

The successful candidate will contribute primarily to research projects on peatlands in the UK, and mainly quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from experimental peat-carbon management site in the Somerset levels. The candidate will also contribute to research projects that are quantifying soil hydrogen uptake to directly inform UK policy and decision making on using hydrogen as an alternative energy source in the future, and quantifying methane dynamics in urban rivers in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia to directly contribute to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. These will include tasks such as:

• Working with the research team to provide specialist work and plan research approaches in lab and field environments. 
• Developing and undertaking sample collection and analysis, ensuring a high level of quality control.
• Engaging with research goals and needs within a team environment.
• Operating, servicing, maintaining and calibrating specialist equipment in lab and field conditions.
• Contributing to local (single day) and national and international (multi-day) field campaigns.
• Diagnose and rectify complex problems to find short and long-term solutions.
• Sourcing and maintaining stocks of lab materials and consumables, as well as input into larger and more specialist purchases, liaising with relevant contacts and suppliers.
• Writing risk assessments and method statements/standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring compliance with all relevant guidelines.
• Training others in specialist techniques, processes and procedures where necessary.
• Respond independently using initiative and judgement to find and offer solutions.
• Exploring ways to develop your own research career.

You have:

• Experience of fieldwork in the broad field of biogeochemistry.
• Experience of labwork in the broad field of biogeochemistry.
• Experience operating, maintaining and problem-solving technical equipment in a scientific environment.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to deal with and prioritise a range of ongoing tasks at the same time.

• Ability to review and advise on complex procedures.
• Ability to work independently towards pre-defined goals.
• An innovative approach to work.

• Relevant qualifications at GCSE, or NVQ level 2/3, or equivalent level, plus relevant work experience.
• It would also be desirable if you have a relevant qualification at degree or equivalent level.
• It would be desirable if you have experience working with greenhouse gas measurements and/or gas geochemistry.
• It would be desirable if you have A valid UK or EU drivers license. 

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding for 3 years

Work pattern: Full time (part-time negotiable)

Grade: G

Salary: £29,605 – £32,982 per annum

School/Unit: School of Geographical Sciences

Internally job title is known as Level 1 Specialist Technician (Research Facility) 

The anticipated interview date will be 19/07/24

This advert will close at23:59 UK timeon 09/07/24

For informal queries, please contact Josh Dean, [email protected]

We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Available documents