Research Technician

Technical Services

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Research Technician to support the work of Dr Laura Kelley. This Royal Society funded post is available from 1st September 2024 for a duration of three years.

Our research links sensory ecology, behaviour, and cognition to understand animal perception and communication (www.laurakelleyresearch.com ). Many animals use signals of colour or size as indicators of quality in mate choice and male-male conflict. It is often assumed that these signals are processed linearly, where an increase in signal size results in a commensurate increase in perceived quality. However, signals are often not perceived linearly, due to sensory processes such as visual illusions, signal categorisation, and proportional processing. Our current research aims to quantify these processes in poeciliid fishes, with a particular focus on sensory processing during mate choice and male-male interactions. By investigating how perception can be affected by biotic and abiotic environmental factors, we will determine how sensory processes and signalling environment can affect signal form, behavioural outcomes, and the evolution of visual signals.

The successful applicant will be responsible for assisting with animal husbandry and data collection, working closely with the PI and other members of the lab. The post will be based at the University of Exeter in the internationally excellent Centre for Conservation and Ecology https://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/research/facilitiesandcentres/cec/ .

About you

The successful applicant will be able to work independently and as part of a team, assisting with animal care, lab administrative tasks, and data collection. They will also have an interest in sensory ecology and behaviour.

Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to work collaboratively and assist with the work of others when needed.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you
We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• 39 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campuses and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave  (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to six weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• stunning campus environment in Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Laura Kelley, e-mail [email protected].