Research Fellow (Mesozoic Palaeobotany & ecophysiology) (Fixed term)

University of Nottingham - Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

Location:NottinghamSalary:£32,080 to £46,485 per annum, depending on skills and experience (minimum £35,608 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performanceHours:Full TimeContract Type:Fixed-Term/ContractPlaced On:7th April 2026Closes:25th April 2026Job Ref:SCI784126

Location:Sutton Bonington

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to join the University of Nottingham at the Sutton Bonington Campus working as part of a team to deliver a project awarded by Leverhulme Trust to understand plant performance and climate feedback mechanisms in the Middle Jurassic. The project will use an experimental framework, to link plant morphology and chemistry to measurements of ecophysiological performance. These combined datasets will be used to understand how plants performed and were adapted to the Middle Jurassic, a greenhouse episode in Earth history where global mean temperatures were approximately 5-10°C warmer than the 1970-2010 average.

The role will involve the generation of ecophysiological data as measurements of plant performance and generating morphological and anatomical trait data on experimental and fossils plants. These relationships will then be used to explore how plants from the Middle Jurassic were adapted and lived in their greenhouse world.

Candidates should have a PhD (or be close to submission) in palaeobotany, plant sciences, or a related discipline, with experience in some of the following areas: Mesozoic plants, plant ecophysiological measurements, plant morphology/ anatomical measurements. Strong data analysis skills, initiative, communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively are essential.

This is a full time (36.25 hours), fixed term post to 31st March 2029, with potential for a further 2-month extension dependant on start date. Requests for secondment from internal candidates will be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Barry Lomax, email barry.lomax@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.