Postdoctoral Research Fellow

University of the West of Scotland; Paisley; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days leave

Birthday leave

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Employee discounts

Fitness facilities

Health resources

Career development

Job summary

The University of the West of Scotland invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to lead a six-month feasibility study under the Marine Fund Scotland project. You will coordinate a wide consortium spanning producers, processors and end-users across cosmetics, nutraceuticals and biomedicine.

Under Professor Brian Quinn, you will perform literature reviews, map the aquaculture by-product supply chain, oversee analytical chemistry assessments, and drive commercial analyses to deliver

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a cognate area and demonstrable research outputs.
• Experience leading or coordinating complex research projects with multiple partners.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management in a research/industry context.
• Evidence of literature reviews, supply chain assessments, or market analyses with clear recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of a Marine Fund Scotland-funded feasibility project.
• Coordinate activities across a large multi-partner consortium.
• Conduct literature reviews and map the Scottish aquaculture by-product supply chain.
• Coordinate analytical chemistry assessments and lead market analyses.
• Review regulatory landscape and develop a prioritised roadmap for high-value products.

Skills

Postdoc research

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Literature reviews

Market analysis

Education

PhD or equivalent

Higher degree in related field

Tools

Analytical chemistry

Supply chain analysis

Regulatory review

Job description

Faculty of Computing, Sciences and Engineering

Fixed Term: until March 2027

This role may be eligible at this time for visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. If requiring visa sponsorship, it is the successful candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the individual criteria to satisfy Home Office visa sponsorship requirements. If the role is offered on a part-time basis, this might also affect eligibility. More information on eligibility can be found on the Government website .

Please note that the information provided in this advert is correct at the time of writing. The University cannot guarantee sponsorship, and we encourage you to keep up to date with any changes that the Home Office may introduce.

Applicants should be aware that this role is fully funded externally so is offered as fixed term contract ending in March 2027. Any further extension would be considered on the renewal of that external funding

THE POST – Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The University of West of Scotland are recruiting for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to lead the delivery of the Marine Fund Scotland-funded project 'Valorisation of by-products from Scottish Aquaculture', a six-month feasibility study hosted within the Faculty of Computing, Sciences and Engineering.

The post holder will coordinate all project activities across a large, multi-partner consortium spanning Scottish salmon and trout producers, aquaculture by-product processors and end-user industries including cosmetics, nutraceuticals, biomedicine and fashion.

Working under the supervision of Professor Brian Quinn, the successful applicant will conduct a comprehensive literature review, map the Scottish aquaculture by-product supply chain, coordinate analytical chemistry assessments of key by-product fractions, lead commercial and market analysis, review the regulatory landscape for target products and produce a prioritised commercial and technical roadmap for a minimum of five high-value products.

The role requires a scientist with strong research project management skills, excellent stakeholder engagement capability and the commercial awareness to evaluate which by-product opportunities are genuinely viable within the Scottish aquaculture context.

The successful candidate should have the following:

• First degree and a higher degree in a course relevant subject.


• PhD or equivalence accepted based on cognate area of understanding.


• Evidence of research experience in a relevant discipline (marine biology, biochemistry, food science, marine biotechnology, or related applied science), demonstrated through publications, reports or equivalent outputs


• Demonstrable experience of managing or coordinating complex research projects involving multiple partners or stakeholders, with evidence of delivering outputs on time.


• Possess excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management in a research, industry or innovation context.


• A working knowledge of conducting literature reviews, supply chain assessments, market analyses or commercial feasibility studies, with ability to synthesise complex information into clear recommendations.

ABOUT US

University of the West of Scotland is a placemaking institution that is proud to be an integral part of its local communities, with a national and international reach: the University has four campuses in Scotland in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, as well as a campus in London Docklands. UWS has almost 100 international partnerships and its student community comprises more than 100 nationalities.

UWS is committed to providing education opportunities for all, empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The University creates meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally through innovative learning and teaching, pioneering research, and transformative partnerships. UWS is committed to the UNSDGs and was ranked joint 1st in Scotland and joint 4th in the UK for quality education (SDG4); and 1st in the UK and 39th globally for our contribution to decent work and economic growth (SDG8) in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.

90% of UWS research was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally in the REF (Research Excellence Framework) 2021.

The Faculty of Computing, Sciences and Engineering at UWS delivers innovative, industry-focused teaching and research that addresses real-world challenges. Through cutting-edge research, enterprise and collaboration, the Faculty develops solutions that drive transformational change and deliver tangible, positive impact for society locally, nationally and globally.

You will join an innovative, supportive and collaborative community, playing a key role in advancing research, inspiring the next generation of graduates and strengthening the University's reputation for excellence. Our students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, research-informed teaching, extensive expertise in research and development, and strong partnerships with multinational companies and organisations across the public, private and third sectors, providing opportunities to tackle global challenges and shape the future of science, technology and engineering.

UWS is fully committed to the UK Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers which sets out clear standards that research staff can expect from the University. It aims to improve the employment and support for research careers in the UK and provides a framework for career development based around the Concordat principles.

We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes:

• 35 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays


• An additional days leave on your birthday


• Defined benefit contribution pension scheme (including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme


• A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance


• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers


• Fitness facilities across our campuses


• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme


• Professional, career and research development opportunities.

Interview Date: Monday 5 th October

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception, where evidence would need to be provided)

The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

You can find out more about how the University uses your personal data as part of the recruitment process by looking at the UWS HR Applicant Privacy Notice at www.uws.ac.uk

UWS are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant .

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a \"Disability Confident\" employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.