Post-Doctoral Research Associate: Polar Diatom Responses To Changes In Light And Biogeochemical Impacts

UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum

CSE / School of Biological Sciences / Institute of Ecology and Evolution

Full-time: 35 Hours per week

Fixed Term: 36-months

The Opportunity: Post-doctoral research associate: Phytoplankton responses to changes in light and biogeochemical impacts.

A unique employer in a vibrant city. The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries.

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Make a meaningful impact. Join the University of Edinburgh and you’ll be making a difference to everything around you. Be part of something bigger — where you’ll do meaningful work, grow and progress, be rewarded and recognised, and benefit from our strong commitment to your wellbeing.

There are so many reasons to join us.

Academic. The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We look for the best in the field across all disciplines and provide a working environment where academics and researchers can develop their careers and passion for their chosen subject area. We offer the full range of academic and research roles and have a genuine focus on our students’ performance and wellbeing.

The position: Responses of natural systems to climate change impacts are a major international research priority, and the world’s oceans are a key research focus. The Southern Ocean in particular is critically important at the global scale, as a modulator of global climate through the uptake of heat and carbon, driver of global ocean currents and home to globally important biodiversity consisting of resident and migratory organisms.

Central to many of these phenomena are Antarctic phytoplankton, and yet their responses to ongoing climate change – and in particular the availability of light – remain poorly constrained. The biogeochemical impacts of these responses – especially with respect to silica cycling within and beyond the Southern Ocean – remain even more elusive.

The newly awarded NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant Polar Dawn aims to address these fundamental research gaps. Join a world-leading team in marine biological and biochemical responses to climate change and lead a cutting-edge experimental study to examine how dark-light transitions impact population growth and silica uptake in Antarctic diatoms.

You will work with a dynamic team with a range of expertise to advance scientific understanding of how Antarctic diatoms respond to changes in their light environment and what the consequences of these responses are for uptake and cycling of silica, as a key macronutrient in the Southern Ocean.

Through this project, you will also support the wider project team, including providing guidance to PhD students and others, as well as having many opportunities to build collaborations and networks nationally and internationally.

People have always been at the heart of our work. As part of the University, you are a part of our community. We are looking for people with drive, determination, and a passion for what they do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support all staff.

A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:

• Professional development and subject matter expertise
• Leading-edge research
• Opportunities for publication

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); we are open to considering flexible working patterns as long as this is compatible with the requirements for the laboratory work. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working that is compatible with the project goals.

How to apply. Please include the following documents in your application:

• CV and publications list
• Cover letter

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion. The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. This role is open to Sponsorship of Skilled Workers and Temporary Worker Sponsored Researchers according to the UK Government Visas and Immigration service. Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note. The closing date for applications is 15 September 2026. Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser’s local time zone.