Post-doctoral research assistant wanted for Farm-Ecos project (Farming and Natural Resources: Measures for Ecological Sustainability)
Farm-Ecos is a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funded, interdisciplinary project, which aims to identify and outline the evidence base for novel, cost-effective measures to protect and enhance farmland biodiversity. These measures should increase habitat quantity, enhance habitat quality and improve ecological connectivity, from the farm to landscape scale. Measures should thus help halt biodiversity loss and enhance the provision of ecosystem services. The project team, based at Teagasc, NUIG, GMIT, TCD and DCU, has expertise in agri-ecology, soil science, socio-economics and agri-environment policy.
We are seeking a post-doctoral research assistant (PDRA) to join this team and to lead field sampling and analysis of pollinating insects. The PDRA will be based in the research group of Jane Stout in the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. The PDRA will be responsible for fieldwork, insect identification, data collation, data management and sharing, data analysis and modelling, and writing reports and academic papers. The overall aim of this PDRA is to predict how farming intensity, habitat quantity, quality, and connectivity, relate to pollinating insect biodiversity, and to model the spatial extent of benefits in terms of the delivery of ecosystem services across the landscape.
Key skills
Essential:
- PhD in ecology, agro-ecology, pollination, landscape ecology or similar
- Proven ability to work in a team and to communicate effectively with other team members – the position will involve collaborative sampling, data sharing, analysis and writing
- Fieldwork experience, preferably in agroecosystems, with sampling and identifying insects
- Excellent quantitative and statistical skills, including mixed modelling
- Excellent spatial analytical skills, including using GIS and spatial modelling software
- Excellent written communication skills to prepare clear and precise documents and reports
- Willingness to travel for fieldwork, including intensive sampling during the summer months in South-eastern Ireland
- Full clean driving licence valid for Republic of Ireland
- Language – must be fluent in English
Desirable:
- Knowledge and interest in pollinators and pollination services
- Experience in sampling and identifying flower-visiting insects
- Own car
Salary: This appointment will be made at point 1 of the PDRA scale from the Irish Universities Association Researcher Salary Scales i.e. €37,223 per annum (gross) for 24 months, from 1st March 2019.
To apply: please send letter of application, outlining suitability for the post, and a CV including the names and contact details of two referees, to Jane Stout stoutj@tcd.ie before 11th January 2019. Interviews will be conducted 17/18th January (in person or via Skype).
For further information contact Jane Stout (stoutj@tcd.ie)
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