Vacancy: Botanical Research Technician at Newcastle University (Closed)

The Role

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Botanical Research Technician (Field crops).

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of technical staff supporting the botanical research activities in the School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, through the provision of technical support within the University Farm sites at Cockle Park and Nafferton 

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual, with experience in a field research role, with a good understanding of health and safety, and excellent team-working and communication skills.

The role holder will support the Plant Research Team Leader in the management and maintenance of key specialist equipment and support crop research activities, in field preparation, sowing and harvesting.

The role has been designed to support a number of recently funded field-based projects on biomass crops, including willow, miscanthus and poplar. This is an exciting and rapidly emerging research area, aligning to wider net-zero ambitions which are predicted to require significant increases in biomass crop production in future years to assist our move away from fossil fuels. The successful applicant will be responsible for surveying and maintaining multiple field-scale biomass trials, working alongside the wider technical team, the commercial NU-Farms team, the Newcastle academics leading these projects, and the wider external scientific teams involved in this work. 

Primary responsibilities will include regular crop walks and plot maintenance activities, data collection on pre-determined agronomic and environmental factors, and communication with team members, both at Newcastle and within the wider project consortia. The majority of data collection will be outdoor-based, but with some processing of samples taking place in the laboratory facilities present on the farms, or at our city-centre campus. During particularly busy periods (e.g. harvest assessments) the successful applicant will also be responsible for overseeing a small group of field assistants, who will support data gathering activities. Training will be provided in all aspects of the role, with opportunities for further personal development available in areas such as student supervision and outreach and engagement (e.g. through involvement in our on-farm student dissertation and external events programmes).

For informal enquiries, please contact David Whitaker by email: david.whitaker@ncl.ac.uk

For more information about the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, please click here 

We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment. 

The position is available from April 1st 2023, and is offered on a full-time, 24 month fixed-term basis. Part-time/job share can be considered as an alternative to full-time.

We appoint on merit and particularly welcome applications from groups that are currently underrepresented in technical Professional Services such as LGBTQ+, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues and individuals who legally identify as female

For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page here

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples. 

Newcastle University

Newcastle is an inclusive global University community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

The University holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. The University is also a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

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.