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
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 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.
|
|