Faculty/Department
Department of Life Sciences
Salary Scale
£33, £38,784.49 per annum (pro rata)
Contract Type
Fixed Term
Duration
1st March 2026 – 28th Feb 2027
Full-time / Part-time
Part-Time
Weekly Hours
18.75
Employment Visa
Non-sponsorable
Posted Date
25/02/2026
Closing Date
08/03/2026
Ref No
6082
Job Description
The Role
What you'll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The Role
The appointee will support the Innovate UK funded work (STREAMS – Space Tech for River Environments and Agricultural Multiparameter Sensors) for water quality monitoring in Wales through the ground-truthing of remote sensing technology by the development of low-cost sensors with the aim of producing a prototype that can be scaled up for production. They will also support the production of significant publications and presentations on a rapid scale.
Also supporting the Principal Investigator on the project by providing inputs to meetings as required along with helping to prepare for a proposal to extend the current support.
What you'll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
* Research into advanced sensing technologies, such as enzyme-based assays, microbial biosensors, or optical sensors and how they may be utilized to achieve high sensitivity and specificity for target analytes.
* Calibrate and maintain developed and deployed sensors.
* Travel to site locations and deploy sensors for testing in river locations.
* Analyse resulting data and present data graphically
* Perform comparative studies to evaluate the performance of the sensors against existing off-the-shelf sensors, benchmarking accuracy, response time, and durability.
* Support the deployment of sensors on-farm to test their reliability and accuracy against conventional sensors.
* Optimise sensors based on knowledge gained from on-farm deployment.
* Support the development of customer-facing platform (targeting water companies and other stakeholders with requirements for diffuse nutrient pollution monitoring).
* Participate in workshops, which aim to collect feedback on the farmer-facing interface and sensors as well as sharing project outcomes and the impacts of water pollution.
* Participate in the dissemination of project findings through social media, publications and industry events.
* Support the PI as required.
* To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
* To be committed to the University's Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
* To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University's Effective Contribution Scheme.
* Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
The responsibilities of this vacancy have been matched to the Academic Role Profile Research 1. Details of the role profile can be found at: Academic Profiles : Human Resources, Aberystwyth University
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
* Expect to hold a post graduate qualification in a biological, agricultural or environmental science subject or a closely related subject in the very near future.
* Experience analysing large data sets
* Experience of field and laboratory-based research
* Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds
* Experience in assisting and supporting research programmes.
* Ability to present material succinctly.
* Willingness to develop research profile.
* Ability and willingness to work with colleagues in collaborative research projects.
* Ability to meet targets.
* An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.
Desirable
* Proven experience of publishing and disseminating research.
* Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1*
* More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
* Flexible working policy
* 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
* Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
* Commitment to Professional Development
* Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
* Staff recognition and reward schemes
* Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
* Staff relocation bursary
* Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
* Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
Under the UK Government's points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.