Research Assistant (if close to completing PhD) or Research Fellow (if PhD obtained)

Environment and Agrifood Theme / Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Informatics

Fixed term contract until 31 August 2023,

Research Assistant: Salary level 4 – range £25,110 to £28,763 per annum with potential progression to £35,951 per annum

Research Fellow: Salary level 5 – range £33,809 to £37,684 per annum with potential progression to £47,105 per annum 

Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire

We welcome applications from inter-disciplinary researchers with an interest in livestock disease, farmer/vet engagement, and decision support. 

About the Role

We are looking for a research fellow to support a one-year BBSRC-funded project on overcoming bottlenecks to tackling Johne’s disease in livestock. You will be supporting the project by preparing and analysing data about the prevalence of the disease in individual herds with Pan Livestock solutions. These data will be used as a way of engaging farmers and vets in a series of workshops to discuss barriers and solutions to managing Johne’s better. Interviews will also be undertaken to understand management of the disease. If you are passionate about farmer/vet engagement and decision-making, as well as having a keen interest in tackling livestock disease, please apply!

You should be available to ideally be in place for September 1st . Some travel may be necessary. The supervisor is committed to developing the career of the successful Early Career Researcher applicant and will provide the necessary time for them to develop their own research portfolio.

About You

You will have a PhD (obtained or near completion) in a relevant discipline to the project. The project is inter-disciplinary involving quantitative and qualitative methods to identify and overcome bottlenecks to management of Johne’s disease. This may suit students with a PhD in veterinary science, environmental science, biological science, geography, agricultural science, or a related discipline. An interest in inter-disciplinary approaches is more important. We are looking for someone with experience of and/or an interest in animal disease management or behaviour change of farmers and vets.

You should have experience of engaging with farmers, vets, and other agricultural stakeholders and some experience of quantitative and qualitative methods (although training on data entry for the decision support tool will be provided). Experience of writing academic papers and disseminating academic material is preferable and a peer-reviewed publication track record is preferred. Experience of managing projects and presenting work at conferences would be useful.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here .

Cranfield’s research and educational excellence in water, energy and environment is recognised internationally and is brought together in the School of Water, Energy and Environment. There are currently 203 FTE staff working in the School. The School hosts the three associated core research and education ‘Themes’ which in turn host a number of world-class centres and institutes. The Themes – Water, Energy and Power, and Environment and Agrifood – define their own research challenges and educational missions, with the Directors of Theme working closely with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor SWEE . 

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are also committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Professor David Rose on (E): [email protected]

Apply online now . Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: [email protected] . Please quote reference number 4131.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 8 July 2022

www.cranfield.ac.uk