Research Associate in Marine Biogeochemistry

Imperial Enterprise; England; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International travel opportunities

Career support for researchers

43 days off a year and generous final/

Job summary

Imperial College London seeks a researcher to study how seafloor topology shapes the mesopelagic biological carbon pump. You will join a multi-disciplinary OceanSOS team and lead fieldwork at sea, processing samples and contributing to publications.

The role offers opportunities to present at international conferences, collaborate within a large European consortium, and work from Silwood Park with hybrid arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience in fieldwork and sample analysis related to the biological pump, sediment traps and/or microbial respiration.
• A track record of overseeing experiments from design to data analysis and publication.
• Knowledge of processes involved in organic carbon cycling in the ocean.
• Ideally some experience of leading your own work at sea.
• Knowledge of how to analyse organic carbon samples.
• Enthusiasm for research in ocean carbon science.

Responsibilities

• Identify how seafloor topology influences mesopelagic biological carbon pump, focusing on particle type, size and microbial remineralisation.
• Participate in fieldwork at sea in the North Atlantic and contribute to regional BCP modeling.
• Organise your component of fieldwork and process collected samples for publication, co-authoring peer-reviewed papers.
• Present findings to the research team and at national/international conferences; collaborate across the consortium.

Skills

Fieldwork at sea

Sample analysis

Biogeochemistry

Organic carbon cycling

Leading own work at sea

Scientific presentation

Education

PhD in Oceanography or related field

Job description

About the role

This research associated with this post will be part of a wider team within the new Horizon Europe OceanSOS project https://oceansos.net/ . This exciting interdisciplinary project aims to determine the impact of seamounts and the currents they create on stimulating the overlying biological carbon pump (BCP), to then inform marine spatial planning. The knowledge generated will provide a stronger foundation for assessing future ocean risks and developing sustainable management approaches. By improving understanding of the links between biodiversity, food webs, and carbon cycling, this work will support decision-making aimed at protecting ocean ecosystems and the processes that sustain them. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an international team of biogeochemists, physical ocean modellers, ecologists and policy makers.

What you would be doing

You will focus on identifying how seafloor topology influences the mesopelagic biological carbon pump, specifically looking at particle type, size and microbial remineralisation across a seamount and abyssal plain. You will be part of a wider team https://oceansos.net/wp3 capturing the contributions of larger organisms, deep-sea communities, and connections between the seafloor and the open ocean in the BCP. Your specific responsibilities will include going to sea in the North Atlantic (Summer 2027) and will use multiple techniques to determine the regional BCP, to then feed into the physical, food-web and statistical models, used by the OceanSOS team. The post-holder will also facilitate fieldwork south of South Africa (early Summer 2027) and the samples collected from this region. The tools you will use at sea include sediment traps, marine snow catchers and optodes to measure microbial remineralisation.

You will be responsible for organising your component of the fieldwork so it is essential you have fieldwork experience at sea. You will also process the samples you collect to then lead and co-author peer-reviewed publications, and will work closely with the wider project team. You will have the opportunity to present findings to the research team as well as at national and/or international conferences. As this project is part of a large consortium, the you will have the opportunity, and be expected to, collaborate widely within our smaller sub-team, but also with the rest of the consortia including at annual science meetings. There will also be the opportunity to work with international partners.

What we are looking for

• Experience in fieldwork and sample analysis associated with the biological pump, sediment traps and/or microbial respiration
• A track record of overseeing successful experiments from design, manipulation and sampling, to data analysis and publishing the results
• Knowledge of processes involved in organic carbon cycling in the ocean
• Ideally some experience of leading your own work at sea
• Knowledge of how to analyse organic carbon samples
• Enthusiasm for research in ocean carbon science

What we can offer you

• Being part of a large international network of project partners from across Europe, with many travel opportunities
• Inclusion in a vibrant team at Silwood Park Campus working on many aspects of oceanic and freshwater carbon cycling
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: Gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

Further information

The post is funded by UKRI through Horizon Europe.

This is a full time, fixed term role for up to 2 years.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant.

Applicants who may require or prefer part-time or flexible working are encouraged to apply. The post is based at Silwood Park Campus. Hybrid working is possible.

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Emma Cavan, [e-mail]