Salary - £29,733 to £31,553 Depending on experience
Fully site or fieldwork based, with occasional opportunities to work from home
Permanent and Full Time (37 hours)
We will be shortlisting as we go and reserve the right to close this advert if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early

UKCEH is seeking an Environmental Ecologist to join our 600-strong team, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:

• 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years

• 10% employer pension contribution

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

• 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues

• Flexible working opportunities

And much more..

We are recruiting an Environmental Ecologist with experience in ecosystem monitoring and pollution impacts on habitats and species. This post will join a vibrant team of experts including air quality researchers, ecologists, technicians, and engineers.

You'll have the opportunity to work in air pollution effects-based research, within the Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects science area. You will be continuing long-term experiments to monitor and assess air pollution effects and support national and international research projects, as well as contributing to new proposals.

As a Research Associate, you will benefit from our training programme over your first three years, running in parallel with the delivery of work.

Acquiring a broad range of skills and training opportunities such as:

• Ecosystem monitoring

• Vegetation monitoring and ecophysiology

• Atmospheric and meteorological measurement techniques

• Tower climbing, first aid, off-road driving, handling compressed gases, etc.

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and investing in your skills and training.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Conducting and developing ecosystem surveys for long-term monitoring, including habitats, vegetation, and plant health

• Using air pollution measurement techniques relating to effects research (e.g., passive and active samplers)

• Applying expertise in understanding pollution effects - for example foliar and soil chemistry changes, secondary impacts, eutrophication, acidification and/or abiotic stress responses

• Ecophysiology measurement techniques of plant health and gas exchange - e.g., stomatal conductance, reflectance indices, gas exchange and fluorescence

• Collaborating with scientists across ecology, air quality measurement, modelling and data science to process, analyse and interpret data

• Assisting in producing research reports, papers, and presentations

• Supporting researchers and students visiting our long-term field sites such as Whim Bog and Auchencorth Moss

For the role of Environmental Ecologist, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A BSc (and ideally an MSc) and/or equivalent experience in botany, ecology, environmental/natural science

• Experience in field-based research, with a good understanding of ecophysiology and/or ecosystem dynamics

• An understanding of plant functional processes and scientific interest in understanding interactions of ecology with atmospheric pollution

• Fieldwork and laboratory experience, with an awareness of Health and Safety

• Knowledge of plant and soil chemistry techniques

• Good organisation and time management skills, able to work to project deadlines

• Data analysis skills - ideally including R, Excel and statistical software

• Accurate data entry skills

• A collaborative and inclusive communication approach - written and verbal

• Has a full UK (manual) driving licence – please confirm on your CV

• Can work outdoors year-round, in the UK and overseas for fieldwork (overseas work is anticipated to be twice a year, for a duration of between 2 weeks and a month per visit)

Desirable Skills:

• Understanding of the linkage between effects and atmospheric composition monitoring and requirements for ecosystem modelling

• Experience of bioremediation, biomonitoring, and ecological recovery

• Understanding of air pollution critical levels and loads

If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet. Apply now.