Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
The above full-time (1.0FTE) post is immediately available until 31st July 2026 on a fixed-term basis, within the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy.
The post
The Faculty wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant to support the work of Prof Angela Gallego-Sala. This ERC funded post is available immediately until 31st July 2026, as a full-time position on a fixed-term basis. The successful applicant will be part of a project entitled: “TroPeaCC: Tropical peatlands and the Carbon Cycle”. This is a project investigating carbon cycling in tropical peatlands, you will be contributing data to understand their past histories and also how they may be affected by climate change.
The posts will mainly include laboratory duties, including the subsampling, analysis and dating of peat cores collected in tropical regions. It may also involve some other work, such as data analysis and some basic modelling. You will need to keep records of all of the data produced in the laboratory/field and you may need to contribute to writing reports.
About you
The successful applicant will be able to work in the laboratory, present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.
Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in Environmental Sciences, Geography or a related discipline and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of research methods and techniques to work within the TroPeaCC project. Applicants will be able to keep accurate records, be able to organise their work, be computer literate, have good analytical skills, good communication abilities l and will be able to liaise and work closely with other colleagues.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you
1. Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
2. Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
3. An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
4. Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
5. A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
6. A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.
Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.
With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.
Further Information
The closing date for completed applications is 12th January 2026 at midnight. Interviews are expected to take place shortly after the closing date.