Research Associate
Research Associate
University of York - Department of Environment and Geography
York, United Kingdom
Department
The Department of Environment and Geography is seeking a postdoctoral research associate. You will carry out field sampling and laboratory-based experiments in order to determine the impacts of flooding on earthworm populations working with earthworms and their cocoons. You will work with Professor Mark Hodson at York together with Dr Michael Berenbrink and a PDRA at the University of Liverpool who will carry out haemoglobin measurements on the earthworms collected from the field or used in experiments and Drs Megan Klaar and Tom Willis at the University of Leeds who will carry out climate modelling. The over-arching aim of this project is to determine the risks to earthworms associated with increased frequency, duration and extent of flooding due to climate change.
The successful candidate will be part of a supportive and community-oriented department that has a strong commitment to upholding our core values (embracing diversity, making a positive difference, environmental sustainability, being friendly and helpful, and always learning). Our department is highly integrated within an exciting array of environmental sustainability endeavours at our university, such as the Environmental Sustainability Academy at York and the Stockholm Environmental Institute (York), providing many opportunities for interdisciplinary working and networking across the university and beyond. The department is proud to hold an Athena Swan Silver Award.
Role
You will sample soils and earthworms from sites which have been subject to varying levels of flooding, identify the earthworms and design and carry out: earthworm avoidance experiments using soils of different moisture content, earthworm exposure experiments in which earthworms are kept in solution and exposed to different oxygen concentrations and, cocoon viability experiments. This will involve designing methods in which the oxygen concentrations of solutions are fixed despite oxygen consumption by respiring earthworms or their cocoons. You will also take the lead in writing up these experiments and liaise with, and contribute to papers led by, the other project PDRAs based at the Universities of Liverpool and Leeds.
This post is available at 100% FTE on a 2 year fixed term contract. Please note that flexible working patterns and job sharing opportunities will be considered.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications needed
A first degree and PhD in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
Experience of planning, designing, carrying out, analysing and publishing results of field- and laboratory-work.
Experience of working with earthworms and earthworm cocoons and designing experiments involving controlled oxygen concentrations in solution is desirable but not essential as full training and support is available.
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