Research Scientist in In-Situ Benthic Fluxes

at  The National Oceanography Centre

Research Scientist in In-Situ Benthic Fluxes
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Permanent
Full time
£42,062 (Band 6)
Who are we?
We are the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) - the UK’s leading institution for integrated coastal and deep ocean research. Through our ground-breaking research, collaboration, and game-changing innovation we work to gain a deeper understanding of our ocean, helping every living thing on our planet flourish.
We are made up of a dynamic and vibrant community focused on solving challenging long-term marine science problems, underpinning international and UK public policy, business and societal outcomes.
The ocean has the potential to provide the solutions to so many of the social, economic and environmental challenges we face worldwide. To truly harness the value of the ocean, we put ocean research, science and discovery at the heart of our culture.
Join us in shaping the future of oceanographic research and contribute your unique perspective to our organisation.
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated researcher with expertise in marine biogeochemistry and experience in using sensor technology to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team, working across NOC and with our international collaborators. The candidate will contribute to the development of a new instrument for marine in situ measurements as part of the Future Leader Fellowship “Sandman”. This instrument will measure gradients of important biogeochemical compounds, such as nutrients, metals and carbonate system parameters directly within porewater with Lab-on-Chip sensors. The Lab-On-Chip sensors, which perform standard laboratory analyses in situ on an automated microfluidic platform, are developed at the National Oceanography Centre and will be tested and improved for deployment in the sediment during the project. The functionality of this instrument will first be validated in the laboratory and at coastal test sites and will then be used to answer scientifically important questions about the processes linked to nutrient and metal recycling and carbon degradation in currently underexplored areas.
The successful candidate will leverage their experience in designing and implementing laboratory and field experiments, as well as using marine sensor technology to conduct independent research in this specialized area. The postholder will also be responsible for producing academic peer-reviewed papers, presenting at conferences and workshops, and communicating with the project partners. In this position the candidate will work at the boundary between engineering and marine biogeochemistry and good cross-disciplinary communication skills are essential. The position is offered at postdoctoral level and the postholder will be encouraged to develop independent research ideas and proposals in collaboration with others at NOC. Career development support will be provided through mentorship and targeted training. This role includes opportunities for seagoing science onboard NOC research vessels or other ships to carry out sampling and experiments. NOC is committed to supporting researchers and therefore this is offered as a permanent appointment, giving the successful applicant the stability to develop their own research portfolio.
About you
The successful candidate will have a PhD and some postdoctoral experience in marine biogeochemistry or a related natural or geoscientific discipline, preferentially with some background in engineering and using new technology, or vice versa. They should have a high level of technical knowledge and analytical expertise in biogeochemistry and sensor technology, the capacity to quickly grasp the functioning marine sensors and be able to bring observations into a wider context. The candidate ideally should also have a basic understanding of benthic-pelagic coupling, experience in in-situ measurements and expertise in biogeochemical transport reaction modelling. The candidate should also have proven skills in independent scientific work, should enjoy fieldwork, including seagoing, and has an appropriate number of publications of internationally peer-reviewed publications in the field reflective of their career stage. For this post, the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team with people from different scientific fields is essential. We welcome applications from candidates outside the UK for this position, but a very good knowledge of English is essential.
Why NOC?

We offer a generous set of benefits, including:

• 30 days contractual annual leave, plus 3.5 extra closure days and bank holidays
• a 10% employer contribution pension scheme
• access to our Employee Assistance Programme, offering free and anonymous support on mental, physical, emotional, health and financial issues
• access to a flexible benefits portal offering online discounts, cashback and eGift cards
• a Cycle2Work scheme allowing employees to acquire bikes and accessories
• a great working environment with a number of social events, including summer and Christmas celebrations
• we are proud to be a Living Wage Employer

Location
This position will be based in Southampton. The centre is well connected by public transport and has ample cycle parking in addition to free onsite car-parking with over 40 EV charging points.
We can support visa applications where required. We may be able to offer financial support for applicants who will need to relocate for this position.
Submitting an application
Please click ‘Apply for this job’ and submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the NOC recruitment team at careers@noc.ac.uk / 07955 851648.
Before submitting your application please ensure you have reviewed the attached job description and person specification.
We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position, as we strive to create a supportive and equitable environment where all voices are valued and heard.
Those seeking employment at NOC are considered solely on their qualifications, skills and experience, without regard to gender, gender identity, age, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, relationship status, family status (including pregnancy / maternity leave) or any other protected characteristic.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the position and declare a disability. NOC is an Investors in People organisation.
Date advert posted: 30 August 2024.
Closing date: 27 September 2024. This vacancy may close earlier depending on the number of applicants.
Please note we are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this position.

Please refer the Job description for details