Research Associate Biodiversity Science

We are excited to launch this new opportunity for a Research Associate in Biodiversity Science to join us in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. The successful candidate will join the TROPS research lab of Prof Marion Pfeifer, working with her on her new ERC project, TIF-CER, 'From Forests to Fields to Sustainable Rural Landscapes: A Multiscale Framework for Quantifying Biodiversity and Climate Interrelationships', running from January 2027 to December 2031.

In this project, you will work with Marion and the wider team to quantify how the three-dimensional structure and configuration of tree-based agricultural systems (trees in farms - TIFs) influence biodiversity and ecological functions, and how these functions translate into ecosystem services and disservices valued by different stakeholders. The project operates across multiple spatial scales, from individual trees and farm plots to landscapes and catchments, and across contrasting agroclimatic contexts.

Your particular focus will be on the biodiversity components of TIF-CER, including biodiversity responses to TIF structure and landscape configuration, mechanisms underpinning wildlife use of TIFs, and the potential for TIFs to contribute to habitat connectivity. You will work closely with the project's climate and land-systems science Research Associate to integrate biodiversity and climate perspectives and understand how these relationships change across spatial and temporal scales.

TIF-CER is working with partners in the UK, Italy, Philippines, Tanzania, Chile and Tunisia to:
- Establish an international network of field plots in TIFs and adjacent agricultural land uses and natural forests across contrasting agroclimatic zones.
- Quantify biodiversity and ecological functions associated with TIFs and establish mechanisms underlying their delivery across spatial scales.
- Analyse temporal trajectories of biodiversity, functions, services and disservices using co-designed scenario models of land-use and climate change.
- Develop tools for end-users using robust evidence for decision-making on tree planting in farms.

The position is full-time (1.0 FTE) and involves substantial international travel, particularly during the establishment and implementation of the project's fieldwork programme. You will take a leading role in coordinating the biodiversity field programme across the international TIF-CER network. This will include planning field campaigns, coordinating equipment and field protocols, supporting local research teams, and training research assistants in standardised biodiversity data collection across different ecological and cultural contexts.

You will take responsibility for the day-to-day logistics of the biodiversity research programme, working with international partners to coordinate fieldwork schedules, equipment, data collection and field protocols across countries. You will also contribute to the recruitment and training of research assistants and local field teams and ensure that biodiversity data are collected consistently across the international network. You will be expected to co-supervise two PhD students and work with a diverse range of stakeholders to identify values associated with biodiversity and the functions that TIFs provide at different spatial scales. You will work closely with ecologists, land-system scientists, hydrologists, social scientists and local stakeholders to integrate biodiversity evidence with the wider TIF-CER framework.

Key Accountabilities:
- Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
- Determine appropriate methodologies for research.
- Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
- Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination.
- Lead logistics.
- Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications.
- Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.

Project Specific Key Accountabilities:
- Lead the design and implementation of biodiversity fieldwork (camera trapping, acoustic data collection, bird surveys) across the international TIF-CER network, including standardised surveys of biodiversity and wildlife responses to TIF structure and landscape configuration.
- Take responsibility for the planning and coordination of biodiversity fieldwork logistics, including field schedules, equipment, protocols and coordination with international partners and local research teams.
- Develop and apply appropriate ecological, statistical and/or spatial modelling approaches to quantify biodiversity responses to TIF characteristics and landscape configuration and to investigate wildlife connectivity.
- Train and support research assistants and local field teams in standardised biodiversity data collection, including the use of appropriate field-based technologies and methods.
- Integrate biodiversity data with environmental, climate, land-use and stakeholder data and work collaboratively across disciplines.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Strong applied expertise in biodiversity and/or ecological research, including experience of designing and implementing field-based biodiversity surveys and monitoring programmes.
- Experience of analysing biodiversity data using quantitative, statistical and/or spatial modelling approaches, with the ability to work with complex ecological datasets.
- Knowledge and experience of landscape ecology, habitat connectivity and/or the relationships between habitat structure, landscape configuration and biodiversity.
- Experience of working with ecologists and/or researchers from other environmental disciplines to investigate ecological processes and temporal system dynamics.
- Experience of implementing fieldwork in rural and/or tropical landscapes and working with international research teams, local stakeholders and/or communities to deliver field-based research.
- Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy.
- Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences.
- Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results.
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues.
- Excellent IT skills in all major office applications.
- The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.
- Awareness of the research environment.
- High level of analytical and problem solving capacity.
- Ability to communicate complex information with clarity.
- Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications.

Attributes and Behaviour:
- Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team.
- Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines.
- Commitment to continued professional development.
- Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity.

Qualifications:
- PhD in ecology, biodiversity science, conservation biology, landscape ecology, zoology, environmental science, or a closely related discipline.

Benefits:
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package, plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.