Vacancy: CEH Soil Carbon Modeller

We are seeking a Band 6 Research Associate to work within the Integrated Catchment Management and Soil Systems group at CEH Bangor located on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. The successful applicant will be expected to participate, and to gain new expertise, in the following key areas:

1. Designing, programming and implementing mathematical models of soil carbon dynamics based on internal properties and processes in soils, and their interactions with other biogeochemical cycles, which determine the resilience of current soil carbon stocks to perturbations such as land use change and climate extremes;
2. Combining new thinking about the interplay and feedbacks among the biological, physical and chemical components of soil to produce novel conceptualizations for future soil carbon models that can identify critical thresholds of change in soil function and exploit emerging technologies and data such as soil eDNA.
3. Integrating soil process-based models and understanding with large spatial datasets (including earth observation data) and GIS-based models to establish frameworks for mapping, assessing condition and predicting soil carbon stocks and changes at large scales;
4. Exploiting the use of digital platforms, cloud computing, mobile apps, and web portals with these models to contribute to national and international initiatives on soil security, natural capital assessment, and ecosystem service provision.
5. Developing and publishing novel research, building internal and external collaborations, working with policy makers, and supporting the development of future funded work both in the UK and overseas.

The post holder will gain skills in the design and implementation of mathematical models in a state of the art IT environment with world class science for model development and testing, and in the effective communication of scientific findings to a wide range of audiences including the research community, policymakers, conservation agencies, land-managers and commercial organisations.

Skills and qualifications required on appointment

• A 2:1 degree in Environmental Sciences or Soil Science
• A PhD (or equivalent experience) in environmental or earth systems modelling
• A high level of proficiency in one or more scientific programming languages (e.g. FORTRAN or C), strong GIS skills, and competence in multivariate statistical and spatial analysis techniques are all essential
• Familiarity with GUI development and experience in a number of computing environments is desirable
• An important part of the job will be to maintain communications with senior staff and to work around any problems encountered; therefore, you are required to have good communication skills and the ability to work on your own initiative
• You will be working in collaboration with other scientists so will need a flexible attitude, the ability to meet deadlines and a sound teamwork ethic
• Open to UK and EU citizens, or those with a right to work in the UK

Training and skills to be gained in summary

At the end of the three year training programme, the Research Associate will have gained in depth training in a broad spectrum of research skills related from soil science, scientific programming, and computing technologies through to the publication and communication of research findings for a range of audiences.  They will have had the opportunity to participate in, contribute to and support the development of a wide range of projects supporting the delivery of CEH science objectives.

Closing Date: 20th November 2016

Interview Date: 15th December 2016

Apply for this position through i-recruit searching for IRC234989