Posted: Monday 14 November 2011

Job Vacancy - Researcher - Marine Environmental Research Laboratory

Researcher

School of Natural Sciences
Institute of Aquaculture
Based at MERL, Machrihanish, Argyll

£29,972 - £35,789 p.a.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Working as part of a small team, the successful candidate will be involved in the planning, conduct and reporting of a wide range of studies carried out under contract for industrial clients in research areas such as pathogen control, vaccine development and fish nutrition. The post holder will also contribute and provide support to relevant projects involving University colleagues, students and other users of the research facility.

Machrihanish offers an attractive rural location, with good local recreation facilities, affordable housing and direct air, ferry and road links to Central Scotland.
The successful candidate will have an appropriate postgraduate qualification and/or research experience in aquaculture or related field. Good time management, organisation and report writing skills are essential. A sound knowledge of fish parasitology would be beneficial as the post holder will participate in research projects relating to the control of sea lice of farmed salmon.

In addition, the post holder will support other members of the team in day to day laboratory operations. The post holder will participate in the weekend and evening duty rota and will therefore be required to live locally.

Description of Duties

Reporting to the MERL Facility Manager, the primary role of the post holder will be to plan, conduct, analyse and report on the findings of research projects and communicate the findings of such research, for example in written reports, peer-review publications and conference presentations. These projects will comply with University and Home Office regulations and will be conducted to GLP standards where appropriate.

The successful candidate will

  • participate in discussions with commercial clients regarding study design, implementation and outcomes and in the preparation of proposals for funding, prepare detailed protocols and reports, identify and select suitable materials and equipment, coordinate and participate in practical work, deploy and supervise technical staff working on these projects and manage workload effectively to complete these studies in a timely manner (75 % of time).
  • collaborate in relevant projects involving other University staff and students, and other users of the research facility, and will provide advice and support for these projects (10 % of time)
  • support other members of the team in day to day laboratory operations, and participate in
    the evening and weekend duty rota (10 % of time)
  • carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, the title of the post and its grading as requested by the line manager or Director of the Institute of Aquaculture (5 % of time)

Essential Criteria

  • Good first degree in a relevant subject
  • Relevant postgraduate qualification, or exceptionally good relevant practical experience
  • Experience in design, planning, conduct, analysis and reporting of experimental studies
  • Evidence of high quality scientific writing
  • Good time management, organisation and report writing skills
  • Able to communicate effectively by telephone, email and in meetings, and in formal presentations
  • Willingness to live and work in a relatively remote rural location on a long-term basis
  • Able to work varied hours, including weekend and evening work

Desirable Criteria

  • PhD in a relevant subject
  • Relevant postgraduate experience
  • Good record of relevant previous publications
  • Knowledge and experience of experimental work involving fish.
  • Practical aquaculture experience in a relevant role
  • Knowledge and experience of fish parasitology
  • Driving licence holder
  • Previous Home Office licence holder
  • Compatible career objectives
  • Previous experience of GLP studies

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