Research Assistant in Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation

The School of Sciences conducts high quality research in biological sciences and is expanding this expertise through the appointment of a Research Assistant in Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation (ABWC) on a 12 month, fixed-term contract. The post holder will contribute to research within the ABWC group and help reinforce external and in-house collaboration among staff members in the School, on projects related to but not limited to the genetics, ecophysiology and evolutionary ecology of native and invasive herpetofauna. The applicant will be required to undertake field-based activities within the UK and possibly abroad as and when required. As part of the role you will also be able to assist in lab and field based student projects on our BSc and postgraduate programmes in Animal Behaviour & Wildlife Conservation . .

You will have completed a minimum of a BSc in a relevant Biological Science or an equivalent subject or have a minimum of two years’ relevant experience related to the role. You will have previously applied your knowledge to generate data for use in wildlife studies and possess the expertise to contribute to research in conservation and knowledge exchange. Good communication and organisational skills are essential attributes.

The University is committed to Biosciences research, and this area has recently been awarded a £1million grant by the University’s Research Investment Fund. The Rosalind Franklin Building is home to modern teaching and research facilities which the appointee will have access to in order to conduct research activities.

Primary project:

The role will primarily assist in a staff project investigating the genetics, ecophysiology, and ecology of a globally invasive amphibian. Within its native range in southern Africa, the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis , is the most widely distributed of all amphibian species spanning multiple climatic regimes where they display asymmetrical plastic responses to changing environments. Additionally accidental or deliberate release of individuals from laboratories or breeding facilities resulted in the invasion of this amphibian on four other continents. This study aims to investigate the developmental plasticity of X. laevis in its native and invasive ranges, as well as in captive populations. In collaboration with the Technical University of Braunschweig (TUB), in Germany, we will evaluate whether adaptation to homogenous environments such as captivity reduces developmental plasticity over time using an approach comparing wild-caught and laboratory X. laevis . We will examine a suite of developmental traits in response to acclimation to temperatures across their entire thermal range. This project aims to build on previous work investigating the phenotypic plasticity of invasive X. laevis in its native and invasive range. In addition to creating new collaborative networks with TUB, the project will continue to develop links with the University of Angers (France), North-West University and Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the European Xenopus Resource Centre (UK).

Job Summary:

The Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation group is looking for a research assistant to assist primarily in projects investigating the genetics, ecophysiology, and ecology of invasive and native herpetofauna but is not limited to this project and can assist in a range of different research projects within the broader topics of Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The research assistant will be responsible for assisting with various research tasks, including fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and data analysis. The research assistant will work primarily in the field and laboratory, with occasional office-based work for data management and analysis. The research assistant will be required to travel to different field sites within the United Kingdom and abroad, often requiring extended stays. This is a full-time, one year fixed-term post.

More specifically it is expected that the appointee will:

• Undertake fieldwork, including surveying, capturing, and collecting specimens and taking genetic samples from herpetofauna in native and invaded ecosystems.
• Conduct laboratory analyses, such as DNA extraction and PCR amplification. 
• Measure physiological traits of herpetofauna, such as thermal performance in response to changing temperatures.
• Data management, including entering data into databases and conducting quality control checks.
• Assist with any other duties deemed necessary for the carrying out of the research projects.
• As appropriate, to assist with supporting Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation research across undergraduate/postgraduate study programmes.

We are committed to promoting and developing a culture of excellence, diversity and mutual respect that supports all our staff and students and welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Natasha Kruger ([email protected] )

The University of Opportunity for Students and Staff

As part of our commitment to ensure the diversity of our staff body reflects those of the student and local communities we serve, we particularly welcome applications from candidates of Black, Asian, or Ethnic Minority heritage, and candidates who are Disabled (including people who may not define themselves as disabled, but nevertheless encounter challenges)

PLEASE NOTE: Applications are scored against the criteria set out in the job description and person specifications attached to this advert. Applications are not assessed against the job advert so please ensure your applications are crafted against the Job Description and Person Specification contained within it.