Salary: £33,309-£36,383 plus 33 days of annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days at Easter and Christmas.

The contract will be open-ended but with fixed funding until 31 December 2024. Hours will be 35/week but with flexibility due to fieldwork. We support hybrid working as the project needs allow.

Job Ref. 1999

Job Summary

We seek a Research Associate to join the project “Sources, Sinks and Sustainable Solutions for Impacts of Plastic on Coastal Communities in Vietnam”. This GCRF funded £2.8m project will work closely with partners in Vietnam. We’re hiring four postdocs; this one specialises in environmental and molecular microbiology and scanning electron microscopy related to the occurrence of microplastics in coastal waters and their biodegradation. This role will be sit half in the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, and half in the Lyell Centre.

The role involves significant fieldwork effort, requiring independent working, organisational and communication skills, and solution-seeking, including in complicated and partly remote environments. We encourage disclosure of special needs to enable us to make reasonable adjustments to support you. You will work effectively as part of a larger team including other PDRAs, technicians, and PhD researchers.

Further details at https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/research/global/lyell-centre/impacts-plastics-vietnam.htm

Key Duties & Responsibilities

  • Conduct work on the design and development of plastic particle identification and classification using SEM.
  • Use microbiological and molecular biology tools, such as 13C-labelled plastic polymers, to conduct biodegradation experiments.
  • General tasks will involve scientific research, and analysis and interpretation of data.
  • Communication with other investigators involved in this collaborative project; preparation of scientific papers; presentation of research at conferences.
  • The successful candidate will be expected to develop and conduct their own experiments whilst also supervising the activities of junior group members and PhD students.
  • Responsibilities will also include assistance in the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities, liaising with other postdocs and external collaborators involved in the project.
  • The successful candidate is also expected to be involved in our outreach activities, with roles that can be tuned to the specific preferences of the candidate but will involve for example interviews, talks for the general public and preparation of experimental demonstrations.

You will have a PhD in a relevant area of plastics pollution, environmental microbiology, molecular biology or related subject; Demonstrative theoretical understanding and experimental background in microbiology, including microscopy and molecular biology; appropriate publication record for career stage; previous experience analysing and interpreting SEM imagery; evidence of working independently, problem-solving, flexibility, and articulating research work – written and verbal.

For all criteria and further details on the post, the project and how to apply please follow the link.

Contact for enquiries: Tony Gutierrez Tony.Gutierrez@hw.ac.uk or for non-science questions Fenella.Watson@hw.ac.uk

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.

Closing date: April 26

Webpage link

https://enzj.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/1999/?utm_medium=jobshare