Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

The above role of  Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Soil Carbon Sequestration for Climate Change Mitigation is available immediately on a fixed term basis, until 30th June 2027. This post may be extended subject to additional funding. We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The post

The university wishes to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to take a leading role in a major industry-funded project that aims to use agricultural management, nature-based solutions and ecosystem stewardship to substantially increase carbon storage in managed soils as a climate-change mitigation strategy. This international project will study contrasting soils from multiple continents, and use novel isotope-labelling approaches to trace new carbon inputs into different organic matter pools across a range of simulated managements and interventions. The role will involve designing, implementing and running long-term laboratory experiments, with associated high-frequency greenhouse gas (13 CO2 , CH4 , N2 O) flux measurements and detailed analyses of the mechanisms promoting the formation and stabilisation of new soil organic matter.

The researcher will be able to pursue their own hypotheses related to controls on soil carbon storage, with the support of a large, international and interdisciplinary team, including researchers specialising in plant ecology, plant-soil interactions, and microbial community diversity and function. The post also represents a major opportunity for translating mechanistic understanding into real-world impact, and will integrate with research in the Brazilian Cerrado and Amazon aiming to help local farmers sustainably manage their soils to increase carbon storage and productivity, and alleviate pressures for agricultural expansion into the world’s most biodiverse tropical ecosystems.

About you

The successful candidate will be a highly-motivated environmental scientist, possessing a PhD or equivalent qualification/experience with a specialism in soil carbon cycling. They will have extensive experience of soil carbon and nutrient cycling research, measuring carbon stabilisation in soils, and in the use using of stable-isotope labelling. The successful candidate will be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as a team leader in the field and laboratory. They should also be able to demonstrate advanced data analysis skills, have experience of presenting at conferences and leading the publication of scientific papers in international journals.

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

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 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.

Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 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

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 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), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

For further information please contact Prof. Iain Hartley, e-mail [email protected] or telephone (01392) 724362.

The closing date for completed applications is 02/03/ 2023. Interviews are expected to take place in early March.