Project coordinator and research assistant – Marine science and restoration - 1056-26

Lancaster University; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

Lancaster University’s Lancaster Environment Centre invites applications for a project coordinator and research assistant to support two prestigious fellowships in marine science and restoration. The part-time post is 0.8 FTE, salary £33,002 to £37,694, fixed for 3 years with possible extension, based in Lancaster, UK.

You will help plan fieldwork across several countries, assist with lab work, data management, website/communication tasks, and coordination within a large collaborative team led

Qualifications

• Fieldwork planning including risk assessments, diving safety, ethics and research permits
• fieldwork support and possible involvement as research assistant
• lab work and organisation
• website and logo development and maintenance
• social media and public engagement support
• team cohesion and coordination including organising socials and retreats
• team visas and other needs
• workshop and meeting organisation
• budget oversight and spending
• help with reporting
• data management and requests for data sharing
• maintaining contact with project partners and collaborators; welcoming and inducting visitors and new group members

Responsibilities

• You will work closely with Nick Graham and Tim Lamont, collaborate with other members of the research team, and coordinate with project partners.

Job description

Project coordinator and research assistant – Marine science and restoration

Lancaster Environment Centre

Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

Salary: £33,002 to £37,694 part time indefinite with end date

Closing Date: Friday 30 October 2026

Interview Date: Thursday 19 November 2026

Reference: 1056-26

Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, UK

Salary: Grade 6

Hours: 0.8 FTE

Location: Lancaster. Travel for fieldwork and project meetings as required.

Duration: 3 years with possibility of extension

We Are Seeking a Highly Motivated And Enthusiastic Individual To Support The Delivery Of Two Research Fellowships And The Associated Research Teams

A Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowship awarded to Prof Nick Graham to establish the Island-Ocean Research Hub. This new project will investigate island-ocean connectivity and the influence of seabird nutrients and island rewilding on island and marine ecology and ecosystem services. The project has collaborating partners at 4 other universities, fieldwork planned in 5 countries, and will employ a large team of researchers. Your role would support this fellowship for 0.5 FTE of your time (i.e. 2.5 days per week)

A UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship awarded to Dr Tim Lamont. This project will investigate mechanisms for scaling up tropical marine restoration (coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass), and the role of business sustainability initiatives in delivering large-scale ecosystem restoration. The project has collaborations with the world’s largest coral restoration programme (www.buildingcoral.com), and the private sector’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards (www.globalreporting.org). Your role would support this fellowship for 0.3 FTE of your time (i.e. 1.5 days per week)

• Fieldwork planning to include risk assessments, diving safety, ethics and research permits
• fieldwork support and possible involvement as research assistant
• lab work and organisation
• website and logo development and maintenance
• social media and public engagement support
• team cohesion and coordination including organising socials and retreats
• team visas and other needs
• workshop and meeting organisation
• budget oversight and spending
• help with reporting
• data management and requests for data sharing
• maintaining contact with project partners and collaborators; welcoming and inducting visitors and new group members

You will work closely with Nick Graham and Tim Lamont, collaborate with other members of the research team, and coordinate with project partners.

Preferred candidates will have experience in marine / biological science and/or project management. A proactive and enthusiastic approach and good interpersonal skills are essential.

Lancaster University is a research-intensive university, ranked in the top 10 of UK universities. The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) is a large and multidisciplinary department, tackling environmental challenges across the natural and social sciences. Within LEC, there is particular strength in high diversity tropical systems, including coral reefs and tropical rainforests. LEC offers a highly collegial and stimulating environment for career development based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis as well as the Athena SWAN Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. Furthermore, we are active and progressive around sustainability, wellbeing and decolonising agendas.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

We anticipate interviews will be held in November 2026.

The University recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in higher education whilst promoting the importance and wellbeing for all our colleagues.

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.

Find out what it's like to work at Lancaster University, including information on our wide range of employee benefits, support networks and our policies and facilities for a family-friendly workplace.