PDRA – Marine Ecologist

Background/Overview

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We are seeking a marine ecologist to join BAS’s Ecosystems team, an internationally-leading group of more than 30 scientists who conduct extensive research on polar marine ecology, and play a vital role in informing policy for the conservation and management of polar marine ecosystems.

The postholder will be central to the delivery of a two-year DarwinPlus funded project which will undertake research to evaluate climate change risks to Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. The Southern Ocean is one of the world’s most rapidly changing oceans, with major impacts likely to affect marine ecosystems with potentially significant consequences for their conservation and management. Focusing on the Southern Ocean, particularly South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI), as a rapidly changing marine system, and on toothfish as an exemplar species, the project will synthesize environmental and biological information to undertake a risk assessment of climate-driven change. The project findings will contribute to conservation priorities for the region, informing fisheries management and the SGSSI Marine Protected Area (MPA). We envisage the project outputs will be applicable to other species and areas, further addressing the global challenge of integrating climate change into fisheries management and MPA design.

The postholder will be required to analyse and integrate a wide range of datasets; employ sophisticated distribution modelling techniques and spatial analyses; and collaborate with stakeholders across a range of sectors (including other science teams, government, industry and non-governmental organisations), organizing workshops and publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an innovative research project and to be involved in internationally important polar ecosystem research.

Purpose:

To assist the Project Leader and project team in delivering all aspects of a two-year DarwinPlus funded project to evaluate the risks that climate change poses for toothfish in waters surrounding South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands to inform ecosystem-based fishery management. The role includes project coordination, establishing a knowledge base from a wide range of datasets, undertaking modelling and analyses to underpin an ecological risk assessment, developing a climate change evaluation framework, engaging with a range of stakeholders and supporting the dissemination of the project results.

Duties:

• Support the Project Leader in the day-to-day management of the project.
• Synthesise data to establish knowledge base (environmental, biological and fishery information).
• Develop species-environment models and projections.
• Design a framework to evaluate climate change risks.
• Prepare data and reports as required and lead the development of scientific papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Liaise with project team and stakeholders to communicate project information and updates
• Attend relevant meetings to discuss and disseminate results.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £31,931.00-£39,915.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Flexitime
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Store discount
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Flexitime

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: BAS 23/41