Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

This new full-time post is immediately available until 31 July 2025 on a fixed term basis. Pending further funding approval, this role might be extended until to 31st December 2025.

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to participate in the work of Professors Tamara Galloway and Ceri Lewis. This fixed term UKRI funded post is immediately available until 31 July 2025. You will join the Future Fibres Network+ project which aims to decarbonise the UK fashion and textiles industry by embedding environmental science at the heart of the sector through systematic, circular and sustainable principles. Whilst promoting interdisciplinary activity, focus for this position will be on ecological impacts and risk assessment.

The focus for this position will be on data mapping of the ecological impacts of the UK fashion and textiles industry, its major waste products including mircofibres and the industry practices that generate them. This data will be used to inform the circular interventions that could address microfibres leakage into the environment.

You will join an interactive, cross-disciplinary cohort of researchers working across 4 leading UK Universities and will be collectively involved in additional data collection, workshops, design sprints and other activities to build the capacity and capability of the network from within.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD in environmental or biological sciences or similar or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in the subject area and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants should have excellent organisational and communication skills and an enthusiastic interest in environmental issues.

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 Devon.

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 Professor Tamara Galloway, e-mail [email protected] or telephone  07717782774.