Research Fellow

This is an exciting opportunity to carry out research into the microbial cycling of carbon monoxide (CO), a ubiquitous atmospheric trace gas and air pollutant. This post for a postdoctoral researcher is part of a collaborative project between the University of Warwick in Coventry and the Earlham Institute in Norwich entitled “The tree phyllosphere microbiome - an overlooked and important sink for carbon monoxide? ” funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

This project builds on our recent discovery of diverse populations of carbon monoxide (CO)-oxidising bacteria in tree phyllospheres. It will reveal how trees and their associated microbiota affect the cycling of atmospheric CO, and how this is controlled by environmental conditions. Atmospheric CO plays a crucial role in atmospheric chemistry by increasing the lifetime of major greenhouse gasses (methane and ozone), making it an important indirect greenhouse gas (GHG). The work of this post will make use of a combination of CO degradation rate measurements and analyses of the composition and activity of phyllosphere microbial communities using meta-omics approaches (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics) in order to characterise this poorly understood component of the global CO biogeochemical cycle.

The post is based at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick, but work will involve occasional travel to collaborators at the Earlham Institute in Norwich. You will be responsible for conducting the research as outlined by the team of investigators at Warwick including Professor Hendrik Schäfer and Professor Gary Bending (School of Life Sciences) and Professor James Covington (School of Engineering, University of Warwick) and liaise with the project team at the Earlham Institute.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure (£31,411). Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£32,348).

Interview Date: TBC.

JOB PURPOSE

Undertake research in order to support the work of the department and develop and enhance its reputation, both internally and externally. Assist the Project Leader and, where appropriate, project collaborators in the successful execution of the project.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Research

• Help establish a sound research base within the department in order to assist the development of research objectives and proposals for own or joint research.
• Conduct individual and collaborative research projects.
• To publish research outcomes in appropriate journals of international standing and to publish and disseminate the result of research to other reputable outlets.
• May present information on research progress and outcomes to bodies supervising research, e.g. steering groups.
• May contribute to the preparation of papers for steering groups and other bodies.
• Communicate complex information (orally and in writing) and material of a specialist or highly technical nature.
• Continually update own knowledge and understanding in field or specialism.

Teaching and learning support

• Could be expected to contribute to the teaching and learning programmes in the department.
• Assist in the supervision of student projects and the development of student research skills.
• May be involved in the assessment of student knowledge and supervision of projects.

Administration and other activities

• May be required to attend departmental meetings and to participate (where necessary) in other committees and working groups within the department, the faculty and the University.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety in all aspects of work.
• Work within budget constraints.

The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. You will be required to be flexible in your duties.