Job Vacancy - Postdoctoral Research Assistant: Heated Settlement Panels
Please quote ref no: BAS 47/13
Closing date for applications: 12 May 2013 at 11:59pm
| 1. | Job Title: | Postdoctoral Research Assistant: Heated Settlement Panels |
| Reference No: | BAS 47/13 | |
| Department: | Biological Life Sciences | |
| Line Manager: | ||
| Contract Type: | Antarctic Employment Pool (AEP) – minimum 36 month contract |
| 2. | Location: Antarctica - Rothera |
| 3. | Purpose: This post is part of a 3 year funded NERC project to investigate the impact of warming on the formation and development of fowling communities in Antarctica. It offers a unique opportunity to collect data on the vulnerability of some of the most temperature sensitive marine animals, in the face of rapid climate warming. The position involves extensive SCUBA diving to deploy an array of settlement panels that are heated to +1 and +2°C above ambient controls (50 and 100 year warming scenarios). Experience of commercial/scientific diving is therefore highly desirable. The post holder will be required to take high resolution photographs, using professional underwater camera equipment. These will be used to identify settling propagules to species level and to monitor how these communities develop. The post holder is expected to have a good working knowledge of identification keys and community analysis. Knowledge of marine animal husbandry and aquarium maintenance will be an advantage. The post involves a minimum of 2 years at the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station, Antarctica and is expected to result in several high impact scientific publications. As a PDRA, the post holder will be expected to play a role in planning, organisation, and implementation of this research programme whilst also supporting a diverse range of marine science projects and base activities, particularly during the summer months. The post holder will be required to work closely with other wintering marine scientists, other station personnel and team members based in Cambridge. |
| 4. | Duties: • To organise and implement the proposed research programme, which involves: 1. Deploying and maintaining an array of underwater, heated settlement panels 2. Extensive photography, microscopy and the use of identification keys 3. Ecological community analysis 4. Preserving samples for genetic analysis back in Cambridge 5. Designing experimental protocols to maintain communities in carefully controlled aquarium treatments 6. Preparation of manuscripts for publication in high impact journals • To play an active role as a member of the marine team, being involved in a diverse range of marine projects Due to the remote location in the Antarctic strong organisational and interpersonal skills are required for this post |
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