Location Dundee
This is a Fixed Term, Part Time vacancy that will close in 9 days at 23:59 BST .
The Vacancy
Main Purpose of Job
At the James Hutton Institute we find scientific solutions to the challenges posed by the climate and nature crises on the sustainable management of land, crop and natural resources that support thriving communities. A temporary part-time technical support is required to assist with research relating to agricultural rotation and sustainable farming, including the impact of tillage on plant:soil interactions. The research is linked to the Scottish Government funded research programme and we need help with sampling a long-term field trial investigating the effects of tillage (ploughing vs non inversion tillage - https://virtualtours.hutton.ac.uk/grieveshousetour/ ) and rotations on soil and crop productivity, especially linked to processes that occur between plant genotype and soil processes. The post-holder will assist with the sampling of these trials, including measuring a range attributes of different barley cultivars, and the post-processing of samples using established protocols, including assessment of biomass and soil chemical and physical analysis.
Main Duties of Postholder
* Field phenotyping of plants and sampling of soils to set protocols.
* Processing of field samples, including but not limited to separation and weighing of plant and soil sampling. Photography of samples. Assistance in preparing samples for analytical processing.
* Recording data from both field and lab measurements.
Person Specification
Education/Experience/Skills
* a background in science (e.g. Higher or A levels) with an interest in plants, the environment and soils.
* An understanding of the scientific process.
* A willingness to work under both lab and field conditions (i.e. outdoors)
* Ability to follow scientific protocols and accurately score data.
* Ability to adhere to health & safety instructions
* Numerate and ability to record measurements accurately
* Higher qualification in science subject (ideally at degree/HND level)
* Ability to use excel / learn to run and follow instructions for use of un-familiar computer programmes
* Experience of handling plant and soil samples
* Experience of working in a research environment
Additional notes/Requirements
This post is a 50% part-time post for 8 weeks. Adjustments to this % and length can be discussed on application.
Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity
We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position.
The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
The James Hutton Institute is a: Stonewall Diversity Champion; Athena SWAN Silver Status Holder; Disability Confident Committed Employer and a Living Wage Employer.
The James Hutton Institute is Happy to Talk Flexible Working.
The Company
The James Hutton Institute combines strengths in crops, soils and land use and environmental research, and makes a major contribution to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and environmental security, and developing and promoting effective technological and management solutions to these.
JamesHutton(1726 – 1797) was a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, an eighteenth century golden age of intellectual and scientific achievements centred on Edinburgh. He is internationally regarded as the founder of modern geology and one of the first scientists to describe the Earth as a living system. His thinking on natural selection influenced Charles Darwin in developing his theory of evolution.
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