Job profile

College of Engineering, Mathematics & Physical Sciences

This new full-time post is available from 1 May 2021 until 30 April 2023 in the Camborne School of Mines.

The post

The College wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to participate in the NERC consortium project LiFT: Lithium for Future Technology. This NERC funded post is available 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2023. This project aims to better understand the Earth system processes that concentrate lithium into mineral deposits, from which lithium can be mined in an economically feasible and an environmentally responsible manner. A significant part of the project is to understand the role that microbes play in concentrating lithium, and how more sustainable methods of lithium extraction can be achieved using microbial processes. The successful applicant will:

• Characterise Li-rich environmental samples for (a) microbial community composition and diversity, (b) the presence and abundance of functional genes using metagenomics and quantitative PCR, (c) geochemistry
• Undertake sediment microcosm and enrichment experiments
• Grow cultures of microorganisms and perform batch sorption and biomineralisation experiments
• Take part in field work to collect samples
• Publish the results in peer-reviewed journal articles.

The project will benefit from the world-class facilities both at the Camborne School of Mines and the Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter. The former is a world-leading Mining and Geoscience Department with a history dating back more than 125 years, whilst the latter is a £30 m interdisciplinary centre leading cutting-edge research into solutions to problems of environmental change. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work with the research team (18 investigators at 4 academic institutions (British Geological Survey, Natural History Museum, Universities of Edinburgh and Southampton), 6 early-career researchers and 18 project partners), attend national and international conferences and write peer-reviewed scientific articles.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in geomicrobiology, microbiology or molecular biology, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to:

Essential

• Processing and interpreting amplicon and metagenomic DNA sequencing data from next generation platforms e.g. Illumina, MinION
• DNA extraction, PCR, quantitative PCR
• Working with biogeochemical cycling in environmental samples e.g. sediment microcosms AND/OR growing and maintaining microbial cultures e.g. bacteria, algae, cyanobacteria

Desirable

• Analysis of biogeochemical indicator parameters using ion chromatography, ICP-OES or ICP-MS, spectrophotometry
• Preparing samples for and collecting images using scanning electron microscopy
• Field work experience, sample collection protocols, risk assessments

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment above.

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university in the top 200 of universities worldwide. We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, and have achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017. We have over 22,000 students and 4600 staff from 180 different countries and have been rated the WhatUni2017 International Student Choice. Our research focuses on some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today, with 98% of our research rated as being of international quality in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall

For further information please contact Karen Hudson-Edwards, e-mail k.hudson-edwards@ex.ac.uk or Laura Newsome, e-mail: l.newsome@exeter.ac.uk, or telephone (01326) 259018.

The closing date for completed applications is 1 March 2021.  Interviews are expected to take place the week beginning 20 March 2021.