Spatial Ecologist, (Research Associate) Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council Wallingford, UK

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Spatial Ecologist, (Research Associate)
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council
Wallingford, United Kingdom

About the role

We offer a prestigious Research Associate training programme to develop skilled UK/EU scientists for the future of European environmental research. The three-year training programme offers you the opportunity to gain practical experience of working within our active research projects whilst acquiring specialist and wider skills valuable for your future career. Each Research Associate will deliver specific, measurable objectives intended to develop their skills as a researcher and to demonstrate their suitability for a research career.
Main Duties

The focus of the role is on the collection, analysis and modeling of ecological data and spatial context to understand the role of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem services and its importance to Natural Capital. Specifically you will support ground-breaking research into the enhancement and optimization of biodiversity-supported food production services at the field, farm and national-scales (so-called ‘ecological intensification’ of agriculture).
You will:

Analyse and model ecological relationships, ecosystem services and Natural Capital to examine issues such as trade-offs, spill-over and spatial scaling;
Undertake ecological field surveys and experimentation to quantify the response of species, communities and habitats to environmental drivers of change;
Manipulate, validate and analyse Earth Observation-derived data and link this to ecological data sets;
Provide high level spatial analytical and ecological support for field, laboratory and glasshouse experiments and monitoring.

Skills and qualifications required on appointment

You will have a keen interest in environmental sciences and are likely to have recently completed graduate studies.
At least a 2.1 degree and relevant experience of environmental science, spatial ecology and field ecology.
Experience in using GIS tools for spatial analysis or modeling would also be advantageous, together with good ecological survey skills.
Ability to rapidly learn new skills in spatial analysis and field ecology is absolutely essential.
Good time management and team working skills are also important.