Location SAMS, Oban Contract Type Fixed Term : 2 years Working Pattern Full Time Salary £32,546 - £33,482 per annum Closing date Monday 12th October 2026 The Role The candidate will be working on a an SEUPB Acclimatise project, a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) that seeks to study plankton-climate interactions in Irish shelf sea systems. SAMS currently operates two automated plankton counters (Imaging Flowcytobots - IFCBs) for the real time collection, enumeration and reporting of phytoplankton data. Within Acclimatise the lead partner (AFBI) is purchasing an IFCB for either or both of shore- and boat-based deployments. The postholder will be based at SAMS but be responsible for supporting AFBI in the commissioning and operation of their IFCB. SAMS has developed an AI based classifier to allow the taxonomic identification of collected phytoplankton images. The postholder will maintain and develop this classifier and the existing software systems for data collection transfer and storage and the web-based dashboard used for data dissemination. The postholder will also contribute to the analysis of collected data and write up for project reports and scientific publication. The successful candidate will be based at SAMS (although remote working may be possible) and will interact regularly with AFBI staff with periodic visits to Belfast and possible occasional seagoing. Details of the project announcement can be found here: Launch of three PEACEPLUS projects to strengthen climate change resilience and coastal community engagement in Irish seas | Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Link to PEACEPLUS website PEACEPLUS | SEUPB Our Ideal Candidate We are looking for a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher who will bring their skills and enthusiasm to provide high-quality outputs. A PhD related to relevant a marine / environmental science / computing topic is essential. Experience with a web framework (e.g. Django, Flask, Laravel, Next.js) - this role specifically uses Django Familiarity with programming languages (e.g. Python, Bash) Linux systems administration - comfortable deploying and managing an application, setting up data pipelines Hands-on machine learning/AI experience training or fine-tuning image classification models (e.g. using PyTorch or similar Knowledge of phytoplankton ecology
PDRA in Monitoring of Plankton using AI Technology employer: The Scottish Association for Marine Science
The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative work culture that prioritises marine biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Located in the picturesque town of Oban, employees benefit from a supportive environment that fosters professional growth through innovative projects in offshore renewables and aquaculture. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on impactful consultancy services, SAMS provides a meaningful and rewarding career path for those passionate about marine conservation.
Contact Details:
The Scottish Association for Marine Science Recruitment Team
