Faculty of Science
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences  

Senior Research Associate (Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry)  

Employment type:  Fixed-term contract (2 years)
Employment basis:  Full-time
Salary:  £27,854 to £31,331 per annum
Date published: 18th October 2013       
Closing date:  17th November 2013

Interview Date:  3rd December 2013

Applications are invited for the post of Senior Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth. The SRA will contribute to the NERC funded programme ‘Shelf-Sea Biogeochemistry’ to determine macronutrient fluxes across the sediment water interface. There will be extensive work at sea sampling sediments and carrying out shipboard experiments, this work will be complemented by laboratory manipulation studies and analysis of collected material.

This study is part of a larger project involving collaboration with scientists from PML, Cefas, SMI and NOC and the Universities of Southampton, Bangor and Aberdeen. The SRA will join the Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research group in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and report to Dr Gary Fones.

This post is a key part of Work Package 2 (Biogeochemistry, macronutrient and carbon cycling in the benthic layer) within the Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry Programme funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, UK  (please refer to  http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/shelfsea/). This is a large and highly interdisciplinary project focused on the UK shelf seas where additional water column, benthic and modelling research will provide complementary data on Fe, carbon and nutrient cycling, and there will be many opportunities for collaboration.

This research project will involve developing techniques for undertaking cohesive sediment resuspension experiments using both in-situ and laboratory based annular flumes. Developing techniques for undertaking permeable sediment experiments using flow through reactors and subsequent micro sensor and micro electrode measurements.

Candidates should have a minimum of a Masters in Marine Biogeochemistry or related subject (a PhD would be desirable), be able to fulfil all essential elements of the person specification and be able to participate in all three research cruises during 2014. 

Candidates should also have a good understanding of nutrient behaviour in sediments and the water column and be familiar with nutrient analysis, microsensor and passive sampler (DGT/DET) techniques.  

Enquiries about the post should be made to Dr Gary Fones on +44 (0)23 9284 2252 or gary.fones@port.ac.uk

For detailed information about the vacancy, please select this link:10009878 - Senior Research Associate (Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry).doc