Research Assistant in Farm Data

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

The Role
The School of Natural & Environmental Sciences pioneers training and research which impacts society from the local area to all corners of the planet. Our School provides a distinctive breadth of subjects and specialisms and our ground-breaking research has led to new treatments for ovarian cancer, the discovery of the world's deepest-living fish, enzymes which promote deep cleaning and the development of pest-resistant crops.

We have an exciting opportunity to join a highly motivated and results orientated team at Newcastle University (NU) Farms managing a 5G Agritech Project. NU Farms cover 800ha of Red Tractor assured mixed arable and grazing operations and a commercial dairy herd of 250 cows across three sites in Northumberland: Cockle Park, Nafferton Farm and Ouston. You will be based across our farm sites and main campus in Newcastle and will have an interest in working in a fast-paced, varied, and challenging environment.

The UK's agricultural sector and farming communities face multiple national/global pressures from net-zero transition, global food shortages and the UK's food security requirements. The North East, as one of the largest, most important land-based and rural economies in the UK, and home to the UK's leading rural innovation and research assets, will be a testbed for innovation companies to pilot technologies within a farm environment to accelerate the new developments to meet a national requirement to develop a sustainable, productive and greener agricultural sector.

The Agritech project will deliver a highly censored platform which takes in real time data that will allow commercial companies to measure the impact of their products on an ongoing basis. The data platform will be managed and maintained by Newcastle University and ongoing costs will be built into future budget projections. The project will allow other tech companies to link their systems up, such as disease prediction models, remote crop health monitoring and methane monitoring to start to bring real productivity gains to UK agriculture. In addition, this facility will allow us to bring in equipment manufacturers, breeding companies, farmers and management advisers to promote the work and support the commercialisation of solutions.

The appointment is a fixed-term contract until March 2025 and is available on a full-time basis (37 hours per week).

To apply, please complete an online application form and upload your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement, and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples.

If you would like to discuss this vacancy, please contact James Standen, NU Farms Director via email: [email protected] .

For more information about the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences click here .