Postdoctoral Research Officer in Freshwater Ecosystem Modelling

School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University; Bangor; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative institution is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Officer to lead groundbreaking research on freshwater ecosystems. This role involves analyzing large geospatial datasets and utilizing advanced programming skills to model tipping points in response to climate change. The successful candidate will collaborate with an international team, publish impactful research, and present findings at prestigious conferences. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to significant environmental research while enjoying a supportive academic community. If you're passionate about climate science and eager to make a difference, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant field or nearing completion.
• Experience with large geospatial datasets and programming.

Responsibilities

• Lead research on tipping points in freshwater ecosystems.
• Analyze large datasets and publish findings in high-quality journals.

Skills

Geospatial Data Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Programming (Matlab/R/Python)

Climate Change Modelling

Education

PhD in Earth Sciences

PhD in Hydrology

PhD in Data Science

PhD in Limnology

Tools

Earth Observation Data

Lake Models

Job description

Job Number

BU03781

School/Department

School of Ocean Sciences

Grade

7

Salary Information

Salary: £37,099 - £44,263 p.a. (Grade 7)

Contract Duration

11 months

Responsible to

Research Fellow

Closing Date

05-06-2025

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Officer in Freshwater Ecosystem Modelling in the School of Ocean Sciences, on the RESETLakes ("Remote Sensing of Tipping Lakes") project focusing on identifying and characterising historic and future risk associated with tipping points in lakes.

Duties will include investigating the dynamics of tipping points in lake ecosystems in response to climate change and other environmental factors. This position will be primarily responsible for leading cutting-edge research that aims to model these tipping points, with a particular emphasis on understanding how specific environmental variables, detected through Earth observation data, interact to influence the health and stability of freshwater systems.

Candidates should be educated to PhD level in relevant subject (Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Data Science, Limnology, or closely related field) or be close to the completion of and have experience working with large geospatial datasets from multiple sources and experience with programming languages such as Matlab/R/Python.

The successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible, with the position available for an initial duration of 11 months. Extension may be possible, depending on funding.

This role will be located on campus at Menai Bridge. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Interested applicants are welcome to contact Dr Iestyn Woolway, e-mail [e-mail]

Closing date for applications: 05 June 2025

Committed To Equal Opportunities

Overview

Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences (SOS), located on the Isle of Anglesey, is a multidisciplinary department with a focus on freshwater and marine sciences and a strong history of international research excellence and collaboration. Core research interests include Earth System Sciences, Oceanography, Limnology and Climate Change Science.

The Project

The aim of this position is to explore large satellite Earth Observation product archives and model projections to investigate variables featuring signals of shifts ("tipping points") in aquatic ecosystems, as well as shifts in environmental variables in the catchment that impact remotely sensed water quality variables.

The European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative has compiled high-quality datasets for a large number of Essential Climate Variables (ECV) for lakes and various other ecosystem types. In our project, an international and interdisciplinary team of Earth observation experts and limnologists performs research on spatio-temporal features and environmental implications of ecosystem tipping points using these ECV datasets and complementary model simulations (e.g., from ISIMIP) and observations. In this project, our team will implement case studies on selected lake regions, while interacting with experts that implement comparable studies for other ecosystem types.

Purpose of the Job

The Postdoctoral Research Officer will be at the forefront of the RESETLakes project, which focuses on investigating the dynamics of tipping points in lake ecosystems in response to climate change and other environmental factors. This position will be primarily responsible for leading cutting-edge research that aims to model these tipping points, with a particular emphasis on understanding how specific environmental variables, detected through Earth observation data, interact to influence the health and stability of freshwater systems. In addition to the core modelling responsibilities, the successful candidate will play an integral role in fostering collaboration within the international, interdisciplinary team of Earth observation experts, limnologists, and climate scientists. This research will involve analysing large-scale datasets, including those compiled by the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative, and applying these to model shifts in both water quality and broader ecological indicators of environmental stress in lakes.

The role will provide a unique opportunity to bridge remote sensing and in-situ data with advanced environmental models, helping to unlock new insights into the complex dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. A key aspect of the role will be the development and dissemination of impactful research outputs. The Postdoctoral Research Officer will lead the writing and publication of high-quality research papers that contribute to the growing body of knowledge on climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems. These publications will aim to advance scientific understanding and inform decision-making on environmental management.

The role also includes presenting findings at prestigious international conferences, thereby raising the profile of the RESETLakes project and engaging with leading experts in the field. Furthermore, the successful candidate will be involved in outreach activities to communicate the research findings to broader audiences, including policymakers, environmental managers, and the general public.

As part of the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, the Postdoctoral Research Officer will join a vibrant academic community and will be supported by world-class researchers in related fields. This role also offers the opportunity to collaborate with international research teams from Eawag (Switzerland), ECCC (Canada), and the University of Tuebingen (Germany). These collaborations will enhance the candidate's research experience and expand their professional network in the field of environmental science. Through this role, the Postdoctoral Research Officer will play a crucial part in advancing the understanding of tipping points in aquatic ecosystems, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective strategies for monitoring and mitigating climate change impacts on freshwater environments.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Gathering and analysing data: Acquire, process, and interpret data to support the project's objectives. This includes maintaining a comprehensive and current understanding of relevant scientific literature, contributing to data collection efforts, and supporting the principal investigator in refining and developing new methodologies for modelling tipping points in lakes. Engage in comparative studies to assess and improve the accuracy of modelling outputs.
• Delivering research outcomes: Lead the dissemination of findings through high-impact scientific publications, technical reports, and presentations at international conferences. Collaborate with research partners to share results with the wider scientific community. Prepare clear and comprehensive write-ups for scientific articles and contribute to public engagement and outreach activities. Provide regular updates and reports to the project management group to keep all partners informed of progress.
• Administration of the research project: Participate actively in project meetings and contribute to planning and coordination to ensure the project meets its goals. Assist in coordinating project timelines, task allocations, and deliverables. Support grant reporting and compliance with project milestones.
• Collaboration and mentorship: Advise and collaborate with PhD students and junior researchers within the PI's group, fostering a supportive and productive research environment. Share expertise through workshops or seminars and contribute to the academic community's collective knowledge.
• Interdisciplinary engagement: Work closely with teams involved in complementary work packages, such as remote sensing and field-based studies. Contribute to interdisciplinary dialogues and joint research efforts to enhance the understanding of climate change impacts on lakes.
• Project management support: Assist the principal investigator and team with project organization, including timeline management, resource allocation, and quality assurance for outputs. Ensure that research activities align with the overarching goals of the project and adhere to best practices in research ethics and data management.
  
  

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and well-being and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
  
  

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• PhD in relevant subject (Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Data Science, Limnology, or closely related field) or be close to the completion of.
  
  

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• Experience working with large geospatial datasets from multiple sources.
• Experience with programming languages such as Matlab/R/Python.
• Experience of using lake models (process-based and/or machine learning) for assessing climate change impacts.
• In-depth understanding of statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated understanding of satellite Earth Observation data for lakes
• Demonstrated ability to publish in high quality scientific journals.
• Demonstrate good verbal and written skills.
• Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience in the field of Climatology/Modelling/Limnology.
• Journal publications in the field of Climate Science, Earth Science, Earth Observation, Limnology.
• Experience applying model data for studying climate change impacts on lakes.
• Track record of conference presentations.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.
  
  

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme) from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.

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