Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Miscanthus Bioenergy & Soil Remediation

LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A distinguished educational institution in the United Kingdom is seeking a motivated researcher specializing in plant biology. The role involves leading trials on Miscanthus biomass production, quantifying soil and plant toxicity, and writing academic publications. Candidates should have a proven ability in field research and an inclination to supervise junior team members. This fixed-term position spans up to 18 months and offers a comprehensive benefits package aimed at fostering development and inclusivity.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Development support

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Proven ability to undertake and lead plant biology field research activities.
• Desirable to have experience publishing in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Must possess an enthusiastic and cooperative attitude for teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Establish and monitor trials on campus and with local partners.
• Quantify contents of soil and plant toxicity.
• Measure plant morphological and physiological responses.
• Collate data sets and undertake appropriate analyses.
• Write academic publications.

Skills

Plant biology research

Data analysis

Field trial establishment

Publication in peer-reviewed journals

Job description

Offer Description

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative project funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (FCDO) Innovate Ukraine Programme. The project: Miscanthus Energy for a Resilient and Inclusive Transition (MERIT) aim is to increase Miscanthus biomass production in Ukraine. Ukraine has over 2 million hectares of arable land left unused due to war-related contamination. MERIT aims to use Miscanthus to: Produce renewable biomass for decentralised heating, biogas, and energy generation and restore damaged and abandoned land through phytoremediation.

You will work on the Biofuel Crop Miscanthus, leading studies to emulate specific soil toxicity states and identifying variety specific resistance to toxins, and compartmentalisation of toxins in plant structures.

Key tasks will include:

• establishing and monitoring trials on campus and establishing field sites with local partners
• quantifying contents of soil and plant toxicity
• measuring plant morphological and physiological responses
• collating comprehensive data sets from project partners and undertaking appropriate Genotype x Environment x Treatment analysis
• writing academic publications

A small part of the project will investigate cold tolerance in specific varieties. You may also be able to assist across the broader projects within the group.

proven ability to undertake and lead plant biology field research activities is essential, and to publish in international peer-reviewed journals is desirable. You will also have an enthusiastic and co-operative attitude, well-suited to working as part of a team, supervising and advising more junior members of the team on occasion, and contributing to essential field / laboratory / project management tasks. There is the opportunity for you to apply your own research interests within this project to broaden the scope of the study beyond the project deliverables.

This is a fixed term post up to 18 months depending on start date.

In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction and development support as well as family-friendly policies.

This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do.

If you feel that this is the role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.

LJMU is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and communities irrespective of age, transgender status, disability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and religion or belief. All our appointments are made on merit.

Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.