Experimental Officer

Technical Services

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

We seek a dedicated and self-motivated individual who thrives in a team environment to join our research group.

This fixed term role is available immediately for one year and will provide direct support to soil science research activities in our Geography department on the University of Exeter Streatham campus.

Summary of the role

You will support a team investigating the mechanisms driving carbon sequestration and storage within agricultural soils as part of a larger research programme between Exeter University and industrial partners. Your Experimental Officer role will also support the ongoing Nature Based Solutions (NBS) research being conducted at Exeter University.

Your role will involve routinely performing a range of soil science techniques to monitor the activity and function of soils in laboratory incubation experiments. Additionally, you will lead experimentation for determining the biochemical methane potential of unconventional feedstocks for Anaerobic Digestion. You will be responsible for setting up batch fermentations of small-scale digesters, soil sample processing and regularly measuring greenhouse gas fluxes using sensitive laboratory equipment. Furthermore, you will help keep instruments maintained, operational and the laboratory suitably stocked for the planned research activities.

The role may also involve supporting the wider research programme and wider Geography technical team where appropriate.

This role may be subject to additional background screening.

The University of Exeter is a proud supporter of the Technician Commitment, a charter focussing on the visibility, recognition and career development of our technical staff. For further information please see our website.  

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

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.

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• 41 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to six weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

Further information

Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Dr. Nina L. Friggens on [email protected]