Research Assistant in Environmental Data Synthesis

Directorate: Lyell Centre

Salary: Grade 6 (£30,505-£35,880)

Contract Type: Full Time (1 FTE), Fixed Term (4 Months)

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE). Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Detailed Description

We seek a researcher with a background in marine science, preferably in marine benthic ecology or biogeochemistry, or environmental science, to join the Marine Evidence Synthesis team at the Lyell Centre. The role requires strong organisational, large database handling and analytical skills. The role is desk-based and involves participating in extraction of meta-data and empirical data from scientific literature around marine-themed topics. We encourage disclosure of special needs to enable us to make reasonable adjustments to support you.

The role commences start of December 2024 or soon thereafter and is full time (35 hours per week) for a fixed term period until 31 March 2025. The role is based at the Lyell Centre in Edinburgh but working remotely within the UK is possible.

You will be joining The Lyell Centre for Earth & Marine Science & Technology - a new, growing transdisciplinary centre of excellence with a positive, supportive work culture. You will work closely with Dr Marija Sciberras and her team.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Extract meta-data and quantitative data from relevant articles and input data into an excel database,
• Conduct basic data synthesis to map out the evidence-base,
• Provide support to line manager to prepare publications and for research meetings,
• Maintain good rapport and communication flow with review team members to ensure timely and smooth delivery of project deliverables.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Applicants should hold a BSc (2:1 or higher) and MSc or equivalent in a relevant area of marine science, preferably marine ecology, marine biogeochemistry or marine environmental science,
• Demonstrate high level of organisation and attention to detail, and ability to handle large datasets,
• Experience with excel, power-point and statistical software (e.g. R),
• Knowledge in basic ecological statistics,
• Capacity to interact well in a research group (i.e. teamwork).

Desirable

• Experience of carrying out data extraction for a systematic review or similar,
• Familiar with literature on the effects of seabed disturbance activities on benthic ecosystems and their functioning,
• Experience of using mapping software such as Geographic Information System (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS),
• Experience of communicating science to a wide range of stakeholders.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system: (1) a cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) a full CV

Applications submitted until midnight on Wednesday 30th October 2024.

Start date: Approx 1st December 2024

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Marija Sciberras work@tuhustle.com

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.