mercredi 15 mai 2013

SENIOR POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE


FACULTY OF SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF ENIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

SENIOR POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Mechanisms and Drivers of Changing Migratory Behaviour
Further Particulars (REF: RA957)

A Postdoctoral Research Associate is required to work on a research project based at the University of East Anglia (UEA) lead by Dr. Aldina Franco and Dr. Jenny Gill. This NERC funded collaborative project involves UEA, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Donana Biological Station (EBD) in Spain. The focus of the work is to identify the mechanisms that underlie changes in bird migratory behaviour and explore the consequences of these changes for migratory populations and their potential role in ongoing population declines.

The main duties of the postholder will be to carry out experimental fieldwork to identify determinants of migratory behaviour, explore relationships with environmental variables and analyse these to model fitness consequences of migration and residency. Models will be used to investigate changes in population growth rates of migrant and resident birds in response to the future predicted changes in the environment. The postholder will coordinate field work campaigns (in November 2014 and 2015 and from March to July 2014 and 2015) and field assistants in Spain, will collaborate with our project partner Dr. Javier Bustamante (EBD) in Spain, will be involved in analysing the field data at UEA, and will help develop population models with our project partner Dr. Phil Atkinson at the British Trust for Ornithology.

The successful candidate will have a first degree and a PhD in ecology, environmental sciences or a relevant biological discipline. Excellent skills in organising and carrying out ecological field work are essential. Demonstrated skills in statistical analysis, experience in analysing spatially explicit individual tag data, modelling population dynamics and in survival analyses are an advantage. Previous knowledge of bird biology, experience with stable isotope analyses, experience of publishing scientific research and ability to communicate in Spanish are desirable. We are looking for a dynamic person with good communication and organizational skills.

The School

The School of Environmental Sciences is one of the largest and longest established academic departments in Europe to focus on the study of the global environment.  We have 240 research, teaching, and support staff in the fields of marine and atmospheric sciences, climate sciences, geosciences, environmental biology, social sciences and economics. Our success is built on high achievement within these disciplines, coupled with enthusiasm for collaboration between them and high ambitions for deepening integration.  In the Research Assessment Exercise 2008, we were assessed with the Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences departments, and the School was the highest ranked Environmental Sciences department in the UK with 25% of our activity classed as world leading (4*) and 70% as internationally excellent (3* and 4*). Our current teaching rating is “excellent” - the highest possible rating.

In line with its strong interdisciplinary ethos, the School has no formal sectors or subdivisions by discipline, and research collaborations occur within and between the subject grouping mentioned above, together with common membership.  Some elements of the School are organised into Centres, which also have strong collaborations and joint membership across their loose boundaries. The School’s outreach activity includes the weather forecasting company, WeatherQuest, the Community Carbon Reduction Project, CRed, and the HEIF-funded Carbon Connections programme, promoting technological innovations for carbon reductions.  These latter organisations have recently combined to form the Low Carbon Innovation Centre.

The School runs a number of Masters Degree programmes, including MSc programmes in Environmental Sciences, Climate Change, Atmospheric Sciences, and Environmental Impact Assessment, Auditing and Management Systems (full-time and part-time). BSc programmes include Environmental Sciences, Environmental Earth Sciences, Geophysical Sciences, and Meteorology and Oceanography (all also offered with a year in a number of other countries, or with a year in industry).  Several BSc Degree programmes are taught jointly with other Schools: Environmental Chemistry, Ecology, Meteorology and Oceanography, and Geophysical Sciences.

Informal Discussions

Informal enquiries (with CV) may be made to Dr. Aldina Franco (a.franco@uea.ac.uk) or Dr. Jenny Gill (j.gill@uea.ac.uk).

Person Specification

The person specification for this post is attached as Appendix A.

GENERAL

Salary

Salary will be £30,424 to £36,298 per annum, on Grade 7 on the single salary spine. The normal expectation is that starting salary will be at the minimum of the advertised salary scale.

Starting date

The post is available from 1 September 2013 on a full-time basis for a fixed term period 36 months.

Terms and Conditions of Appointment


Full details of terms and conditions of employment for Research and Analogous Staff will be made available to the candidate to whom the appointment is offered.

Annual Leave Entitlement

There is an annual holiday entitlement of six weeks plus statutory (8 days) and customary (6 days) holidays.

Superannuation

The post is superannuable under the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Proof of Qualifications

The person specification for this post lists qualifications that are essential and/or desirable and you may hold some or all of these qualifications.  Please note that if you are offered the appointment you will be asked to provide original certificates of these educational and professional qualifications. Please DO NOT provide these with your application.

Entitlement to Work in the United Kingdom

If you are shortlisted for interview you will be asked to bring to interview original documentary evidence of permission to work in the UK. Candidates invited to interview will be provided with a list of appropriate documents that can be provided as evidence. Please DO NOT provide this with your application.

Due to the nature of this role and the level of qualifications required, please note that immigration legislation allows the University to apply for a sponsorship certificate for this post.  Where appropriate, the University will apply for a sponsorship certificate from the Home Office UK Immigration and Visa Service on behalf of the candidate offered employment. The individual will be required to supply original documents and certificates to support this application.

Workers from outside of the EU who do not have current residency status within the UK and will require entry clearance or leave to remain approval from the Borders Agency should familiarise themselves with Tier 2 (General) of the Points Based System operated by the Home Office.  Details are available at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/.

Occupational Health Assessment

Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health Assessment to be carried out by the University’s Occupational Health Service.

Occupational Health Assessment

Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health Assessment to be carried out by the University’s Occupational Health Service.

APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Your completed application form should quote reference code RA957 and be returned by not later than 12 noon on 7 June 2013 in one of the following ways:

·         accessed via the relevant vacancy details at http://www.uea.ac.uk/hr/jobs/ then downloaded in Word format to be completed electronically then saved and sent as an email attachment to hr@uea.ac.uk or

·         accessed via the relevant vacancy details from http://www.uea.ac.uk/hr/jobs/ then downloaded in Word format to be completed electronically, then printed and posted to the
Human Resources Division,
University of East Anglia,
Norwich, NR4 7TJ, or

·         accessed via the relevant vacancy details from http://www.uea.ac.uk/hr/jobs/ and downloaded in PDF format and printed, to be completed by hand and returned by post to the Human Resources Division at the address shown above or

·         forms received by post from the Human Resources Division should be completed by hand or typed and returned by post to the above address.

·         Postal applications will not be acknowledged unless a stamped addressed
envelope/postcard is supplied.

·         For paper submissions please ensure you add the correct postage to your
application pack as failure to do so will considerably delay receipt by this office and may jeopardise your application for this post.

·         Please note that applications received after the closing date will not
normally be accepted.  If you are submitting an application by post immediately prior to the closing date please contact the Human Resources Division on 01603 593034 to let us know that your application has been posted, and if possible also send a copy by fax to 01603 593522 or by email to hr@uea.ac.uk in order that we receive these by the closing date.

·         Please note that feedback will not normally be provided to those applicants who are not shortlisted for this post



Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Please note that an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form must be completed and returned with ALL applications, whether submitted by post or by email.   If submitted by email, the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form must be sent as a separate document/attachment to the Application Form.

The Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be detached from the received application before short-listing takes place and will not form any part of either the short-listing or decision making process.

Referees

In naming referees in your application, you are requested to give only those who can immediately be approached and one of these must be your current employer, or if not employed your most recent employer.

Interviews

It is anticipated that interviews will take place during the week commencing 26 June 2013 and candidates who have not heard by the 26 June 2013 should assume their application has been unsuccessful. 

Successful shortlisted candidates may be notified of their interview times by telephone and/or e-mail and it is therefore essential you include both of these in your application.

This document is available in alternative formats e.g. large print, disc and on-line.  If you need this document in an alternative format please contact us on 01603 593034, fax 01603 593522, or email hr@uea.ac.uk


APPENDIX A
PERSON SPECIFICATION

Post: Senior Post Doctoral Research Associate
Ref: RA957
School/Division: ENV
Dr Aldina Franco


Date: 05/2013



Criteria


Essential


Desirable
Education, experience and achievements

·         BSc and PhD in Ecology, Environmental Sciences or relevant biological discipline.
·         MSc in Ecology Env. Sciences or relevant biological discipline.
·         Relevant peer reviewed publications.
Skills and knowledge



·         Field work experience in ecology.

·         Good communication skills.
·         Being able to communicate in Spanish.
·         Excellent skills in statistical analysis.
·         Experience with population modelling and survival analyses (e.g. using Matlab or R).
·         Bird ringing and handling experience, (with lesser kestrels is an advantage).
·         Experience coordinating other people/research assistants;
·         Experience with stable isotope analyses.
·         Experience in use of tags for tracking individual birds and analysis of spatially explicit data.
Personal attributes

·         Good interpersonal skills.

·         Good organisational skills, including personal initiative and time-management.
Special circumstances


·         Ability to travel to do field work in Spain for several months.