Research Assistant

at  Forestry Commission Forest Research

JOB SUMMARY

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.
We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet. And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So, whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk
The post holder will work across the Climate Change Research Group (CCRG) and the Physical Environment Science Group (PESG) at Forest Research. These two groups work closely together.
CCRG works to improve understanding of forest function including: (i) the impact of climate change on forests and forestry, (ii) what role forestry can have in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and (iii) how forestry practice can adapt to reduce the impact of climate change and to benefit from any opportunities. The research is across the spectrum from more fundamental measurements, through developing methods and tools, undertaking practical action and demonstration, and providing advice and evidence to underpin policy.
PESG undertakes work to understand the complex interactions between forests and forest management practices and their physical and historic environment. The Soil Sustainability Research Team sits in the PESG and undertakes research to ensure that forest practices do not compromise soil physical, chemical and biological sustainability. The PESG also manage long-term, intensive forest monitoring sites, focused on understanding the impacts of air pollution on forest ecosystems, contributing to wider national and international networks.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking to recruit a Research Assistant to work across the Climate Change and Physical Environmental Science Research Groups at Forest Research. This role will support a range of projects aimed at furthering our understanding of the effects of climate and environmental change on the health and functioning of trees and forests across Great Britain. There will be varied tasks in the field, lab and office, supporting the work of scientists across these groups, and opportunities to engage with other projects across Forest Research.
The Research Assistant will support several long-term environmental monitoring projects, including the Environmental Change Network, the ICP Forests Level II network and the Alice Holt Carbon Dioxide Flux Monitoring Station. The successful applicant will become familiar with the effects of air pollution, climate change and disease on forest ecosystem functioning whilst supporting the collection of data that feeds into annual reports on the state of forests in the UK and Europe.
There will be opportunities for learning and development as new protocols are developed in the team for using cutting-edge environmental monitoring technology, such as acoustic monitoring. The post-holder will also benefit from hands-on training on more established environmental monitoring technologies such as data loggers, meteorological sensors, and greenhouse gas analysers.
Key Work Areas:

The successful applicant will be required to:

• Carry out and assist with fieldwork, following training in standard procedures and guidelines to; measure soil greenhouse gas fluxes, assist with the maintenance of above-canopy micrometeorological instrumentation, and make tree mensuration measurements.
• Carry out the collection and preparation of soil, foliar, and root samples for chemical analysis, with a high attention to detail.
• Assist with the calibration of sensors and the set-up of new monitoring equipment ready for deployment in the field. Assist with data download from ongoing field monitoring sites.
• Maintain equipment in good working order and ensure inventories are up to date.
• Assist with the writing of new standard operating procedures and risk assessments.
• Store and share data appropriately to facilitate collaboration.
• Assist in maintaining contact with external stakeholders (e.g. landowners) and contribute to technical discussions with managers.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Environment and Sustainability
Science