"Research Associate - Miscanthus Energy for a Resilient and Inclusive Transition (MERIT)"

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative project funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (FCDO) Innovate Ukraine Programme. The project: Miscanthus Energy for a Resilient and Inclusive Transition (MERIT) aim is to increase Miscanthus biomass production in Ukraine. Ukraine has over 2 million hectares of arable land left unused due to war-related contamination. MERIT aims to use Miscanthus to: Produce renewable biomass for decentralised heating, biogas, and energy generation and restore damaged and abandoned land through phytoremediation.

You will work on the Biofuel Crop Miscanthus, leading studies to emulate specific soil toxicity states and identifying variety specific resistance to toxins, and compartmentalisation of toxins in plant structures. Key tasks will include: (i); establishing and monitoring trials on campus and establishing field sites with local partners (ii); quantifying contents of soil and plant toxicity (iii); measuring plant morphological and physiological responses (iv); collating comprehensive data sets from project partners and undertaking appropriate Genotype x Environment x Treatment analysis (v); writing academic publications. A small part of the project will investigate cold tolerance in specific varieties. You may also be able to assist across the broader projects within the group.

A proven ability to undertake and lead plant biology field research activities is essential, and to publish in international peer-reviewed journals is desirable. You will also have an enthusiastic and co-operative attitude, well-suited to working as part of a team, supervising and advising more junior members of the team on occasion, and contributing to essential field / laboratory / project management tasks. There is the opportunity for you to apply your own research interests within this project to broaden the scope of the study beyond the project deliverables.

This is a fixed term post up to 18 months depending on start date.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr R. Webster (r.j.webster1@ljmu.ac.uk)

In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction and development support as well as family-friendly policies.