Research Associate

Cardiff University; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

45 days annual leave

Local pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Cardiff University invites applications for a Research Associate to join an ambitious NbS project bridging ecology, environmental science and water management. You will generate evidence on NbS effectiveness, work with industry partners, and help translate cutting-edge science into practical climate-resilient water solutions for UK reservoirs.

The role offers a 35-hour week, fixed-term appointment, and a competitive salary with benefits; flexibility between office and remote work is available

Qualifications

• Knowledge of ecological processes underpinning community resilience to environmental change.
• Experience with high-throughput molecular techniques in freshwater and environmental management.
• Ability to analyse, model and visualise complex datasets to support stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop evidence base for NbS effectiveness in UK drinking water reservoirs.
• Collaborate with academic and industry partners to translate science into practical solutions.
• Integrate ecology, environmental science and water management insights to inform reservoir management across the UK.
• Contribute to delivering an industry-focused NbS project with real-world impact.

Skills

Ecology

Molecular techniques

Data analysis

Job description

Research Associate

Biosciences/Earth and Environmental Sciences

We are seeking an enthusiastic and innovative Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our vibrant, multidisciplinary team and help deliver a pioneering, industry-focused Nature-based Solutions (NbS) project.

Working closely with leading water industry partners, you will build the evidence base for the effectiveness of NbS approaches and assess their suitability for UK drinking water reservoirs. The project aims to harness natural ecosystem processes, supported by targeted management interventions, to establish resilient, self-regulating biological systems that safeguard water quality now and into the future.

This highly applied role offers the opportunity to generate real-world impact by developing sustainable solutions that enhance climate resilience, protect drinking water sources, promote biodiversity, and reduce reliance on costly engineered interventions.

You will work at the interface of ecology, environmental science and water management, collaborating with academic and industry partners to deliver evidence that informs future reservoir management across the UK.

This position is ideal for a motivated researcher who is passionate about translating cutting‑edge science into practical solutions for climate‑resilient water systems and healthier, more biodiverse freshwater ecosystems.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• ecological processes underpinning community resilience to environmental change;
• the use of high-throughput molecular techniques in freshwater, environmental and ecological management;
• the analysis, modelling and visualisation of complex and diverse datasets to support stakeholder engagement and decision‑making.

Informal enquiries are welcome and can be directed, in the first instance, to Dr Sophie Watson ([e-mail]).

Job Details

Full‑time, 35 hours per week, available from 1 September 2026. Fixed term until 31 August 2027.

Salary: £41,064 – £46,049 per annum (Grade 6). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Benefits include:

• 45 days annual leave (incl. bank holidays)
• local pension scheme
• cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives
• annual increments within the pay scale
• and more

Business needs will require some degree of office‑based working, but the balance of time can be spent in the office or remotely (subject to agreement with the line manager).

Closing Dates

Date advert posted: Friday, 18 September 2026

Closing date: Friday, 2 October 2026

Equality and Diversity

Cardiff 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 therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We especially welcome and encourage applications from those from under‑represented groups within the University workforce, such as those who identify as LGBT+, Ethnic Minority or those with disabilities. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Language

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

DORA Statement

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University.

Hysbyseb Swydd

Cydymaith Ymchwil

Y Biowyddorau/Gwyddorau'r Ddaear a'r Amgylchedd

Rydym yn chwilio am Gydymaith Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol brwdfrydig ac arloesol i ymuno â'n tîm bywiog, amlddisgyblaethol. Bwriad y swydd yw helpu i gyflwyno prosiect arloesol sy'n canolbwyntio ar ddiwydiant ac ar ddatrysiadau sy'n seiliedig ar natur (NbS).

Gan weithio'n agos gyda phartneriaid blaenllaw yn y diwydiant dŵr, byddwch yn adeiladu sylfaen dystiolaeth ar gyfer effeithiolrwydd datrysiadau sy’n seiliedig ar natur ac yn asesu eu haddasrwydd ar gyfer cronfeydd dŵr yfed y DU. Nod y prosiect yw manteisio ar brosesau ecosystemau naturiol, gyda chefnogaeth ymyriadau rheoledig sydd wedi'u targedu, i sefydlu systemau biolegol gwydn a hunan-reoleiddiol sy'n diogelu safon dŵr, heddiw ac yn y dyfodol.

Mae'r rôl hon yn cynnig y cyfle i greu traweffaith yn y byd go iawn drwy ddatblygu datrysiadau cynaliadwy sy'n gwella gwytnwch rhag newid hinsawdd, amddiffyn ffynonellau dŵr yfed, hyrwyddo bioamrywiaeth, a lleihau dibyniaeth ar ymyriadau peirianegol costus.

Byddwch yn gweithio ar groesffordd ecoleg, gwyddor amgylcheddol a rheoli dŵr, gan gydweithio â phartneriaid academaidd ac o fyd diwydiant i gynnig tystiolaeth sy'n llywio’r gwaith o reoli cronfeydd dŵr yn y dyfodol ledled y DU.

Mae'r swydd hon yn un delfrydol i ymchwilydd llawn cymhelliant sy'n angerddol am drosi gwyddoniaeth flaengar yn ddatrysiadau ymarferol ar gyfer systemau dŵr sy'n gallu gwrthsefyll newid hinsawdd, ac ecosystemau dŵr croyw iachach, mwy bioamrywiol.

Dylai ymgeiswyr allu dangos gwybodaeth a phrofiad mewn un neu fwy o'r meysydd canlynol:

• prosesau ecolegol sy'n sail i wydnwch cymunedol i newid amgylcheddol;
• y defnydd o dechnegau moleciwlaidd trwybwn uchel at ddibenion rheoli dŵr croyw, amgylcheddol ac ecolegol;
• dadansoddi, modelu a delweddu setiau data cymhleth ac amrywiol i gefnogi’r gwaith o ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid a gwneud penderfyniadau.

Croesewir ymholiadau anffurfiol a gellir eu cyfeirio, i ddechrau, at Dr Sophie Watson ([e-mail]).

Job Details

Swydd amser llawn (35 awr yr wythnos) yw hon ac mae ar gael o 1 Medi 2026. Mae'r swydd hon am gyfnod penodol tan 31 Awst 2027.

Cyflog: £41,064 – £46,049 y flwyddyn (Gradd 6). Ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, bydd unigolion fel arfer yn dechrau ar waelod y raddfa gyflog, ac eithrio o dan amgylchiadau eithriadol.

Mae Prifysgol Caerdydd yn cynnig pecyn buddion gwych, sy’n cynnwys 45 diwrnod o wyliau blynyddol (gan gynnwys gwyliau banc), cynllun pensiwn lleol, cynllun beicio i'r gwaith a mentrau teithio eraill, cynyddrannau blynyddol ar hyd y raddfa gyflog, a mwy. Mae’n lle cyffrous a bywiog i weithio, gyda nifer o heriau gwahanol. Rydym hefyd yn falch o gefnogi’r Cyflog Byw. Bydd anghenion busnes yn gofyn am rywfaint o weithio yn y swyddfa ond gellir treulio gweddill yr amser yn y swyddfa neu’n gweithio o bell (yn amodol ar gytundeb gyda'r rheolwr llinell).

Closing Dates

Dyddiad hysbysebu: Dydd Gwener, 18 Medi 2026

Dyddiad cau: Dydd Gwener, 2 Hydref 2026

Equality and Diversity

Mae Prifysgol Caerdydd wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi a hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb ac amrywiaeth yn ogystal â chreu gweithle cynhwysol. Rydym o’r farn bod modd gwneud hyn drwy ddenu, datblygu a chadw ystod amrywiol o bobl o lawer o gefndiroedd gwahanol. Felly, rydym yn croesawu ymgeiswyr o bob rhan o’r gymuned, beth bynnag fo’u rhyw, eu hethnigrwydd, eu hanabledd, eu cyfeiriadedd rhywiol, eu hunaniaeth draws, statws eu perthynas, eu cred, eu cyfrifoldebau gofalu neu eu hoedran. Rydym yn croesawu ac yn annog ceisiadau yn arbennig gan pobl o grwpiau nad ydynt wedi’u cynrychioli’n ddigonol yn rhan o weithlu'r Brifysgol, megis y rheini sy'n uniaethu’n LHDTC+, o gefndiroedd Ethnig Leiafrifol neu'r rheini sydd ag anableddau. Er mwyn helpu ein cyflogeion i sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng eu gwaith a’u bywydau personol, byddwn hefyd yn ystyried cynigion i weithio’n hyblyg neu rannu’r swydd.

Language

Cewch gyflwyno cais yn Gymraeg, ac ni chaiff cais a gyflwynir yn Gymraeg ei drin yn llai ffafriol na chais a gyflwynir yn Saesneg.

DORA Statement

Mae Prifysgol Caerdydd wedi llofnodi Datganiad San Francisco ar Asesu Ymchwil (DORA), sy'n golygu y byddwn, wrth wneud penderiodde?