The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) seeks a research scientist with proven fieldwork skills and experience of data analysis and writing scientific papers to work in our Wetland Research team. Reporting to the Head of Wetland Research, you will be responsible for helping ensure the quality and timely production of scientific output from our team of five researchers and will have the opportunity to pursue research projects on waders and possibly ducks.
The GWCT is a research and education charity specialising in the conservation of game and wildlife species in the UK. The majority of game research in the UK is undertaken by the GWCT, but we also work on a broad range of species sharing the same habitats and facing similar issues (www.gwct.org.uk).
Our Wetland Research team is based at our HQ in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, but conducts fieldwork at sites across Britain and Ireland and in collaboration with researchers abroad. Current research areas include work on migration of Eurasian woodcock, declines in our resident woodcock population, sustainability of woodcock shooting, effectiveness of AES fallow plots for lapwings and solutions for increasing breeding wader productivity on lowland wet grassland.
This is a permanent post, subject to satisfactory performance during a probation period of 6 months.
Salary £24-26K, dependent on experience.
Main duties
- To design, undertake and supervise ecological fieldwork, including the capture and tagging of birds, nest monitoring, behavioural observations, radio-tracking and use of trail cameras.
- To manage large datasets and undertake data analysis.
- To write scientific papers.
- To scope research areas and develop funding proposals.
- To report to project teams, research committees, funders and external stakeholders.
- To assist with dissemination of research findings for non-specialist audiences, by liaising with the media team over press releases, writing research summaries for internal and external use, preparing posters and presentations for a variety of audiences.
Skills required
Qualifications
A PhD in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience, and a first degree in a relevant discipline are essential. A bird ringing licence is desirable.
Essential skills
- The ability to use modern statistical techniques and software to analyse data.
- Experience of publishing scientific papers in international, peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience of designing and implementing fieldwork projects.
- Confident delivery of presentations to scientific and popular audiences.
- The ability to work effectively both alone and as part of the wider team.
Desirable skills
- The ability to write funding applications.
- Experience of partnership working and liaison with funders.
- Experience of analysing telemetry data.
- Experience of handling wild birds.
Closing date for applications:
24 May 2017
Apply by CV with covering letter by e-mail or by post:
Dr Andrew Hoodless
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
Fordingbridge
Hampshire SP6 1EF
E-mail: Lynn Field (PA to Director of Research, Advisory & Education) lfield@gwct.org.uk
