Post Doctoral Researcher Associate - Aberdeen

Title: Post Doctoral Researcher Associate

Type: Full-Time, Fixed Term (15 Months)

Salary: £35,267 - £40,836

Location: Aberdeen Campus

REF: ANF/RLU/073/23

Closing Date: 8th May 2023

SRUC is unique in Scotland and one of the largest organisations of its kind in Europe. Our ambitious and exciting vision is to work at local, national and international levels, leading innovation and sustainable development in agriculture and rural sectors.

Integrating crops and livestock within “mixed farming systems” aims to optimise the use of resources through collaboration and diversified production (crops, animals) where the different enterprises benefit from each other. Resources can be used more efficiently in these systems, for example, by using crops and grasslands to feed and animals and fertilise fields with manure from the animals, as well as provide benefits such as sequestering carbon in the system and improving biodiversity. The diversified production can also enhance the resilience of farms and support a more circular use of resources in general.

This 15-month PDRA position in agriculture/soil science at SRUC seeks to 1) use data from long-term agricultural experiments and a meta-analysis of literature to understand the cycling of nutrients and carbon in systems with and without livestock 2) work with short-term experiments on research and commercial farms to understand the impact of sheep grazing of winter cereals on soil health and crop production and quality.

The PDRA will be a member of the Department of Rural Land Use based in SRUC’s North Faculty in Aberdeen. The appointee will work closely with colleagues in SAC Consulting (the commercial arm of SRUC).

This project is part of the wider £9 million Euro H2020 MIXED (Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry systems) project.

Field work is an essential part of this role so applicants must be willing to travel independently.

For informal enquiries please contact Prof Christine Watson (christine.watson@sruc.ac.uk) or Dr Kairsty Topp (Kairsty.topp@sruc.ac.uk)

Closing date: 8th May 2023

Benefits / What you will get in return:

• Enhanced holidays (minimum 33 days per year)
• Enhanced pension contributions for teaching staff (7.2% - 11.9% employee and 14.9% increasing to 17.2% employer)
• Cycle to work scheme
• RAC Membership
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working patterns
• Hybrid working solutions (in some areas)
• Tailored investment in and individuals' learning and development

Further details on the requirements of this role can be found in the Job Particulars document which you must read before applying for this role. This is downloadable when you click the APPLY link.

Further information

Please read the Job Particulars Document before proceeding with your application.

Apply

To apply for this role, please use the SRUC online application system. CVs will not be accepted without a completed application form.