Research Fellow in Palaeoecology

Coventry; Coventry; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Employers Pension

30 days Annual leave + Bank Holidays

Holiday Purchase Scheme

Life Assurance 4x Salary

BUPA Cash Plan

CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a

Job summary

Coventry University invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR). You will contribute to the AHRC-funded ARTEMIS project, researching Holocene human-environment relationships in East Attica, Greece, through pollen, palaeoenvironmental analyses and modelling.

You will lead fieldwork, manage laboratory analyses, and collaborate with partner institutions in Birmingham, Patras and Innsbruck to produce high-impact publications and

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in Geography, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Botany or Archaeology.
• Independent research ability with a 1st Class/2.1 degree.
• Expert knowledge in palynology, palaeoecology and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.
• Experience with fieldwork, sediment coring and pollen analyses.
• Experience selecting and submitting samples for radiocarbon dating.
• Strong writing and presentation skills for high‑quality publications.
• Willingness to collaborate on interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange.

Responsibilities

• Lead fieldwork in East Attica, retrieving sediment cores and conducting vegetation surveys.
• Perform pollen, non-pollen palynomorph and microscopic charcoal analyses.
• Develop age-depth models and select samples for radiocarbon dating.
• Contribute to estimation of RPP and palaeo land-cover modelling (LRA/MSA).
• Publish results in high‑profile journals and present at events.
• Build internal and external networks to support knowledge exchange and funding opportunities.

Skills

Palynology

Palaeoecology

Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

Education

PhD (or equivalent) in Geography/Environmental Science/Earth Sciences/Botany/Archaeology

Tools

GIS

Radiocarbon dating sample submission

Job description

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Research Division,Research Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR)

Competitive starting salary range from £38,784 up to £42,254 per annum (dependent upon experience) with the potential to progress. A discretionary range for candidates with exceptional experience can be discussed/considered.

Mode

Full Time, Fixed Term for 24 Months

Our Mission

Coventry University is a global Education Group that empowers students and communities to transform their lives and society through teaching, learning, research, and enterprise.

An ambitious and innovative university, our research is designed to have real-world impact on society and tackle global challenges through our 13 challenge-led, interdisciplinary research centres. We enable high performing research teams and future research leaders to thrive and make an impact locally, regionally, nationally, and globally

The Role

As Post-Doctoral Research Fellow within the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) you will play a key role in the AHRC-funded ARTEMIS project, which aims to uncover the untold stories of Greek rural communities by generating an integrated human-environment narrative that brings the rural heart of ancient Greece to light. Working closely with the project co-lead based in the Climate and Environmental Change research cluster at CAWR, and with colleagues at the Universities of Birmingham (UK), Patras (Greece), and Innsbruck (Austria), you will contribute to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, pollen-based land-cover modelling, and integration of results with archaeological data to inform understanding of Holocene human-environment relationships in East Attica, Greece.

In this role you will contribute to fieldwork in East Attica to retrieve sediment cores for analysis, and to conduct vegetation surveys and modern pollen sampling to enable estimation of Relative Pollen Productivity (RPP) for Greek taxa. You will lead laboratory analyses, including pollen, non-pollen palynomorph, and microscopic charcoal, of both modern and palaeoenvironmental samples. In collaboration with post-doctoral researchers based at Birmingham and Patras, you will be responsible for selecting and submitting material for radiocarbon dating and developing age-depth models for the sediment sequences. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to estimation of RPP for Greek taxa, and to develop your skills in quantitative land-cover modelling, including both the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm (LRA) and the Multiple Scenario Approach (MSA).

The role will involve applying innovative research methods, expanding the research portfolio through high-quality publications, and building strong internal and external networks to support knowledge exchange, future collaborations, and funding opportunities.

Qualifications Required

PhD (or equivalent) demonstrating an ability to carry-out independent research with a 1stClass/2.1 Degree in an appropriate subject such as Geography, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Botany, or Archaeology.

Our Successful Candidate

You will be a highly motivated and experienced Research Fellow with demonstrable expert knowledge, understanding and prior experience of palynology, palaeoecology, and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

You will have advanced knowledge of research methods and techniques with demonstratable adherence to all regulations, as well as the ability to develop research objectives, projects, and proposals for your own and joint research.

You will have expertise and experience in palaeoenvironmental fieldwork, including sediment coring, and in pollen, non-pollen palynomorph, and microscopic charcoal analysis. You should have experience of selecting and submitting suitable samples for radiocarbon dating, and be willing to contribute to fieldwork for RPP estimation. Experience of age-depth model construction and sedimentological analyses including loss-on-ignition and particle size analysis would be beneficial, as would GIS and numerical data analysis skills.

You will be capable of writing up your research to produce excellent, high-quality publications inhigh profile peer reviewed journals, and of presenting at national/international events. You will be committed to working collaboratively on research development, delivery and dissemination including interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research, public engagement, and knowledge exchange.

The Benefits

As a staff member of Coventry University, you will have access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which includes:

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4x Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.