Postdoctoral Researcher in Biogeochemistry

PREDICT Project
School of Chemical Sciences
Dublin City University

• 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract

Dublin City University

Dublin City University www.dcu.ie is a research-intensive, globally-engaged, dynamic institution that is distinguished both by the quality and impact of its graduates and by its focus on the translation of knowledge into societal and economic benefit. Through its mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation, DCU acts as an agent of social, cultural and economic progress. DCU is Ireland’s fastest growing university, and now hosts more than 17,000 students across its three academic campuses: DCU Glasnevin Campus, DCU St Patrick’s Campus and DCU All Hallows campus.

School of Chemical Sciences

The School of Chemical Sciences has played a significant role in the rapid development of DCU to the point where we can now compete with some of the best European Universities. At the postgraduate research level, the School possesses an outstanding track record and is currently home to more than 95 postgraduate students, engaged in taught and research based MSc and PhD programmes, in diverse fields. These range from the development of chemical and biological sensors, and intelligent materials, to drug design and discovery, and advances in science education. The School houses a suite of state-of-the-art research equipment including high resolution electron microscopy and a range of both mass and magnetic resonance spectrometers.

Role Background & Profile

Coastal zones are threatened by forces such as climate change and sea-level rise that combine to drive increasingly intense storms, flooding, and erosion. Assessment and prediction of coastal vulnerability can only be achieved by systematic and sustained monitoring of physical, chemical and biological processes that occur in coastal zones. The aim of our project – PREDICT “Integrating multidisciplinary geoscientific data into forecasting models to monitor and predict coastal change: Proof of concept in Dublin Bay” - is a coordinated program of coastal observations that will be used to validate, calibrate and extract as much information as possible from satellite environmental data. We will integrate these datasets to generate forecasting models that can be used to predict environmental change and inform future planning.

We are now seeking a motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher to join the PREDICT team which is currently made up of researchers with chemistry, bioscience, mathematical modelling, remote sensing and oceanography backgrounds.

Research Career Framework

As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework http://dcu.ie/hr/ResearchersFramework/index.shtml. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path. DCU has a strong track record in attracting both Irish and European Union research funding under Horizon 2020 (and all previous Framework Programmes), Marie Curie Actions and Erasmus. We offer a dynamic and internationally focused environment in which you can advance your academic career.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Principal Investigator the Postdoctoral Researcher will:

• Coordinate research between partners MU, UCC and the GSI
• Assist in the supervision of postgraduate research students working on the project
• Deliver research outputs and provide input into reports as required according to project management schedules
• Attend and present results as required at project progress meetings
• Assist in identifying and developing future research and funding initiatives
• Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which he/she is engaged with the support of and under the supervision of the Principal Investigator
• Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, the School, or the University
• Engage in teaching and teaching support as assigned by the Head of School under the direction of the Principal Investigator
• Liaise with both internal and external stakeholders including industry and academic partners/collaborators
• Carry out administrative work associated with the programme of research as necessary.

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• A PhD and primary degree in either Chemistry or Biochemistry and/or a related field.
• Excellent practical laboratory skills
• Strong analytical skills including the maintenance, use and interpretation of analytical equipment such as GC-MS
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively within an R&D team that includes both academic researchers and industrial partners
• Strong organisational skills
• Excellent writing skills with experience of report writing and publications in high impact journals

Desirable

• Experience in statistical packages

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:

• Discipline knowledge and Research skills – Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline;
• Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications;
• Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to impart their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students;
• Management & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to lead and manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students.

Mandatory Training

Post holders will be required to undertake the following mandatory compliance training: Orientation, GDPR and Compliance. Other training may need to be undertaken when required.