Senior Research Associate – Marine food web rewiring

Lancaster University; Bailrigg; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policies

Family-friendly workplace

Athena SWAN initiatives

Job summary

Lancaster University seeks a highly motivated marine scientist/community ecologist to join the Island-Ocean Research Hub. You will study seabird nutrients, their integration into foundation species, and effects on food webs across island archipelagos and UK sites.

Ideal candidates hold a PhD, have fieldwork experience, and can apply statistical modelling to publish results while collaborating with partners and mentoring PhD students.

Qualifications

• PhD in marine science or community ecology is required.
• Experience with fieldwork and field sampling is essential.
• Strong track record of publishing peer‑reviewed papers.

Responsibilities

• Lead fieldwork and data collection across study sites.
• Apply statistical models to ecological data and publish findings.
• Collaborate with Lancaster Environment Centre and partner institutions; co-mentor PhD students.

Skills

Fieldwork experience

Statistical modelling

Publish scientific papers

Interpersonal skills

Education

PhD in marine science / community ecology

Tools

R

Python

GIS

Job description

Lancaster Environment Centre
Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK
Salary: £39,906 to £46,049(Full time, indefinite with end date)
Closing Date: Friday 30 October 2026
Interview Date: Friday 20 November 2026
Reference: 1052-26

Hours: Full time

Location: Lancaster. Travel for fieldwork and collaborations as required.

Duration: 4 years

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic temperate or warm-water marine scientist and/or community ecologist to join the Island-Ocean Research Hub. This new research hub will investigate island-ocean connectivity and the influence of seabirds and island rewilding on ecosystem structure, function, and benefits to people. You will focus on the role of seabird nutrient run-off, the extent to which those nutrients are integrated into foundation species, and how food web structures are influenced by the nutrient subsidies. Potential study sites will include the inner and southern Seychelles, the Mediterranean Sea and island archipelagos around the UK, and ecosystems to explore include Mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs and kelp. This project is led out of Lancaster University, with a number of collaborating universities and NGOs. Fieldwork for the project will include periods in remote locations, working in small teams, and scuba and snorkel-based work, and experience of such working will be essential. There will be opportunities to gain experience in co-mentoring of PhD students. You are encouraged to think through their own ideas about the role of seabird nutrients on food web rewiring and how their area of expertise could be applied to this study. You will work closely with Prof Nick Graham on this project, and collaborate with other members of the research team, both in Lancaster and at collaborating institutions.

Preferred candidates will have a PhD in marine science/community ecology, experience of fieldwork, skills in statistical modelling, and a proven ability to publish scientific papers. 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.

For more information, see the Further Information link below.

Informal enquiries for issues not covered in the further information to Prof Nick Graham [e-mail] . Such enquiries are not necessary as part of the application and will not inform any decision. Applications without prior enquiry are welcome and will not be disadvantaged.

Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.

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.

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.