Research Assistant (Fixed Term)

The Role

As a Research Assistant, you will contribute to research using existing ecological and spatial datasets to explore how biodiversity responds to land-use and environmental change, with an initial focus on the Cairngorms National Park. Working closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, you will support data analysis, spatial modelling, synthesis, and interpretation to help inform landscape regeneration and conservation planning.

The role will involve working with large environmental datasets and collaborating with researchers and partners across multiple disciplines. While the primary focus will be on biodiversity modelling in the Cairngorms, there may also be opportunities to contribute to related work in other regions, including Cumbria, and to support wider activities within the Centre.

This is a highly collaborative role suited to someone with strong quantitative and analytical skills, an interest in ecology and land-use change, and enthusiasm for working at the interface of biodiversity science, conservation, and sustainable landscape management.

Responsibilities

• Support the analysis and interpretation of ecological, biodiversity, and land-use datasets to investigate responses to environmental and land-use change.
• Contribute to the development and application of spatial and statistical models relating to biodiversity, habitats, and landscape regeneration.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, scientific papers, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Support and contribute to wider Centre activities across different UK landscapes where appropriate.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for up to 7 months.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements. The postholder will be based in the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge and will be expected to work on site at least three days per week, except whilst on fieldwork.