Research Technician Needed

This full-time role is available from 6th February 2023 to 2nd February 2024.

Summary of the role

The Centre for Ecology and Conservation wishes to recruit a Research Technician to work with Dr Regan Early on a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded research project to investigate and tackle biodiversity loss in the UK through partnerships and community action.

The post entails investigating the accessibility and wellbeing benefits of nature to members of diverse human communities in the UK. The post holder will take on desk-based analyses of existing datasets. You will be given opportunities to develop skills and leadership experience in ecological research, social justice, and science communication, and to co-develop research questions with the PIs. We will work with you as far as possible to develop your own interests, and support your career development. The assistant will join the RENEW project, FABio research group (https://www.fabiogeography.com/), and the research group of Kevin Gaston (http://kevingaston.com/) which are thriving, supportive fora for collaboration.

You will undertake the following:

1. Collate, map, and analyse data on UK biodiversity, particularly the distribution and abundance of birds.
2. Collate, map, and analyse data on human interactions with nature, wellbeing, socio-economic and diversity information
3. Present research results in various forms to other researchers and members of the public.
4. Liaise with academic staff, postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows to ensure efficient working research practice and to provide training in research approaches as required.

About you

You should have the following skills and experience:

1. Interest in developing research questions and working with human communities, including individuals from diverse cultural, ethic, political, socio-economic, religious and demographic backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities.
2. Understanding of how to use GIS software to map, overlay, and visualise multiple types of data
3. Presenting work in verbal, graphic, poster, or written format
4. Ability to maintain accurate and detailed records.
5. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with academic staff and students.
6. Familiarity with use of MS Office.
7. Experience in managing one or more different types of data, e.g. socio-economic data, survey data on attitudes and behaviours, environmental data, or biodiversity data.
8. Experience in coding in R, or other statistical or programming interfaces
9. Willingness to undertake training.
10. Organised and methodical.
11. Ability to work effectively as part of a team.