Research Assistant (Stuck in the Mud)

Internal only – Open to Loughborough University Staff members only

School of Social, Political and Geographical Sciences

Part-time fixed-term position (2 days a week, 15 hours),  for 12 months

Geography and Environment, Loughborough University is seeking to appoint a part-time research assistant to work on a project entitled ‘Stuck in the mud: addressing the fine sediment conundrum with multiscale and interdisciplinary approaches to support global freshwater biodiversity’. The project is UKRI funded, through the Future Leaders Fellowship scheme. It is an interdisciplinary project sitting at the interface of aquatic ecology, fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and sedimentology engaging with academic and stakeholder project partners in the UK and globally.  

The RA will play a key role in the project which will quantify and develop a mechanistic understanding of how environmental controls drive fine sediment impacts for freshwater biota. Fine sediment (typically defined as particles <2mm) deposition in riverine ecosystems represents a critical human-induced threat to global freshwater diversity. Despite the extent and magnitude of this threat we lack fundamental knowledge about the mechanisms controlling the ecological effects of fine sediment; vital knowledge needed to underpin the implementation of effective global river management strategies. The overall objective of the project is to identify, examine and quantify the primary abiotic and biotic controls influencing the ecosystem effects of instream sedimentation.

The research assistants’ main responsibilities will be to undertake macroinvertebrate sample processing in the laboratory including picking of invertebrates from the samples and subsequent identification, processing of sedimentological samples, to input processed data into spreadsheets and to attend internal meetings. Knowledge of macroinvertebrate processing and identification would be advantageous.

Informal enquiries should be made by email to Dr. Kate Mathers, Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, [email protected].

Closing date for receipt of applications is: 22nd January 2023

Interviews will be held on: week commencing 23rd January 2023

Please follow this link for further details.