Research Assistant/Research Associate - Hycean Worlds (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: Funds for this position are available for 2 years in the first instance. The position may be further renewed for another year, subject to project assessment.

Applications are invited for a Full-time Research Associate position, to contribute to the exploration of a range of habitable and ecological conditions on Hycean worlds, planets with habitable ocean-covered surfaces and hydrogen-rich atmospheres. The project, which is funded by the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe, is led by Prof. Nikku Madhusudhan of the Institute of Astronomy (IoA), University of Cambridge. The successful candidate will join a collaborative team of researchers including Prof. Madhusudhan at the IoA and Dr. Emily Mitchell at the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge.

Applicants are expected to have strong expertise in one or more of the following areas: (1) Modelling of planetary atmospheres and/or interiors, (2) Ecological modelling and/or quantitative ecology (3) Earth climate modelling (4) Astrobiology (5) Quantitative palaeontology (6) Evolutionary biology. Candidates with expertise in other related areas are welcome to apply.

Applicants must have a PhD in Astronomy, Physics, Earth sciences, Biology or a related field, or have satisfied the requirements for PhD, by the time of appointment. Successful candidates will be expected to pursue a competitive research program in a collegial environment and have strong communication and computing skills. A successful candidate with a PhD will be appointed at Grade 7 (Research Associate - £36,024 to £44,263 per annum). A candidate who has not been awarded their PhD will initially be appointed at Grade 5 (Research Assistant - £32,982 to £33,966 per annum) and, upon award of PhD, promoted to Grade 7.

The University of Cambridge thrives on the diversity of its staff and students. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome. We have an active Equality and Diversity Committee which continually works to further the aims of the Athena SWAN charter. The University has a number of family-friendly policies and initiatives, including a returning-career scheme, childcare costs support, university workplace nurseries, university holiday play-schemes, and a shared parental-leave policy. As part of its commitment to providing a family-friendly environment for researchers, the IoA ensures that should parental leave be needed during the course of employment, there is provision for extension to contract to compensate for the parental leave taken.

The project is funded by the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe, the Leverhulme Trust, under Grant RC-2021-032.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please indicate the contact details of three academic referees on the online application form and upload a full curriculum vitae (CV), list of publications, and a research statement (three pages max), including a description of how your research expertise can be applied to the project. Please ensure that all your referees are contactable at any time during the selection process and are made aware that they may be contacted by the Institute of Astronomy.

The application deadline is 23:59 GMT on Wednesday, 31st January 2024. Where applicable, referees will be requested to provide references by 7th February, 2024. The start date of the appointment is negotiable starting from April 2024.

Please refer to further particulars for full instructions. For any queries regarding the application please contact: [email protected] .

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Nikku Madhusudhan via [email protected] .

Please quote reference LG39931 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Further information
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