Quantitative Ecologist

This post will be a part of the UK terrestrial Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (tNCEA)
programme.
The quantitative ecologist will explore and synthesise data to inform science, stakeholders and
the public as part of implementing mycorrhizal research within soil monitoring across England.
At Kew, we are generating novel baseline data on mycorrhizal distributions across habitats in
England to understand and link below and aboveground ecosystem functioning across land uses,
soil and vegetation types, considering biodiversity and carbon. This includes the use of
artificial intelligence to accelerate data gathering. This post will provide a first
opportunity to study the role of mycorrhizas in carbon and nutrient stocks and cycling across
the country, thus contributing a key, but so far neglected, variable and source of indicators
for environmental assessment and monitoring.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with an interest in data analysis for
environmental science.

Required:

• PhD, or research-focussed first-class Masters degree, or equivalent ecological data
  analysis experience in relevant research field (e.g. macroecology, computational methods in
  ecology, ecological modelling, biodiversity, environmental sciences, biostatistics,
  environmental intelligence, climate change).
• Evidence of significant professional experience, detailed knowledge of the literature in
  biostatistics and mathematical modelling applied to biodiversity data.
• Demonstrable analytical experience with species distribution and/or environmental data
  using specialised statistical or quantitative analytical software and coding languages (e.g. R,
  Python, GIS).
• Experience contributing to or leading peer-reviewed scientific articles and/or scientific
  reports.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants
and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where
nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by
drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global
network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi. 

The salary will be £36,338 – £39,043 per annum (pro rata), depending on skills and experience.

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous
annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an
Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and
discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and
free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own
beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the
community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria
for the post.

No agencies please.