Purpose of Role
The role will be supporting an UKRI funded Future Leaders Fellowship ‘Fate of ocean oxygenation in a warming world’, project with Professor Babette Hoogakker (Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University).
The project will involve proxy reconstructions of seawater oxygen levels and outreach work.
The individual will provide technical and logistical support. The applicant would be processing and analysing samples from marine sediment cores and require as a minimum a first degree (MSc desirable) in earth and ocean sciences (includes marine geology, oceanography, or marine biogeochemistry) and experience of working in a laboratory.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
To support ongoing research on oxygen levels in the oceans and provide specialist technical support in paleoceanographic research, liaising directly with the line manager.
Duties will involve:
1. sample preparation (weighing, sieving, drying of sediment samples),
2. identifying and picking of foraminifera,
3. carrying out sedimentary and specialist foraminifera geochemical analyses in laboratory,
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
4. A degree in environmental/earth and ocean sciences, including oceanography, marine biology, geology, biogeochemistry
5. Analytical and technical problem solving skills
6. IT skills, proficient in the use of computers and general software
7. Good communication and presentation skills
8. Team player with good interpersonal skills
9. Demonstrate self-motivation and desire to achieve the objectives agreed with managers working towards the strategic goals set by the School
10. Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment
11. Demonstrable professional and proactive approach
12. Willingness to travel and perform laboratory work with partner institutes
Desirable
13. A MSc degree in paleoceanography
14. Experienced in identification of benthic and planktonic foraminiferal species
15. Working experience in applying palaeoceanographic proxies, including running specialist laboratory equipment
16. Working towards deadlines
17. Analytical and technical problem solving skills
18. Experience of relevant health and safety protocols