[ES_JOBS_NET] Research Associate in Modelling of CO2 Removal in Rivers and Aquifers - Postdoc position at Sheffield, UK

[Victoria Giordano-Bibby]

Research Associate in Modelling of CO2 Removal in Rivers and Aquifers
*Faculty of Science, School of BIosciences, University of Sheffield*

Overview

We are seeking to appoint an experienced Research Associate in the general
field of modelling of freshwater geochemistry to join a dynamic,
high-profile research project: the Greenhouse Gas Removal with UK
agriculture via enhanced rock weathering Demonstrator, funded by UKRI-BBSRC
(2021-2025). The Demonstrator is a UK focused integrated whole system
assessment of the science, societal and scalability opportunities and
challenges of enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to help the UK reach Net Zero
by 2050. This Demonstrator is one of five, coordinated by the Directorate
Hub, CO2RE.



The Research Associate will be embedded within the Leverhulme Centre for
Climate Change Mitigation (LC3M) at the University of Sheffield, funded by
a Leverhulme Trust Research Centre Award. UKRI partners on this large
research consortium project include a number of leading UK institutions and
scientists working in the exciting field of atmospheric CO2 removal.



This post is in the project modelling team led by Professor D.J. Beerling
FRS, and project partners at

U. Leeds Professor S.A. Banwart and Professor L.J. West. The appointed
Research Associate will assess the security of carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
in the UK resulting from ERW during transport of weathered products in
rivers and groundwater from agricultural land to the marine environment.
The Research Associate will assess the extent to which Greenhouse Gas
Removal (GGR) efficiency by ERW may be affected by carbonate precipitation
or other interactions with groundwater and river systems during water flow
and transport to the coastal margins at national scale. For example, the
extent to which fate of ERW products during transport in groundwater,
streams and rivers is influenced by alkalinity, pH and aqueous carbonate
speciation, carbonate mineral precipitation and carbon dioxide gas exchange
with the atmosphere. The goal is to produce a UK-wide scenario-based
evaluation of the net GGR potential of ERW and its contribution to the UK’s
net zero target incorporating new evaluation of critical uncertainties. The
project will thus require construction of a geospatial dataset of
freshwater chemistry to upscale the local impacts to predict UK-wide ERW
efficiency.



You will have experience of in handling and processing large geospatial
datasets e.g. using geographical information systems and ideally,
experience with geochemical data or modelling (e.g., using USGS
hydrogeological code PHAST or similar codes). Experience with chemistry of
rivers and/or groundwaters would be an advantage. You will be responsible
for writing scientific papers and reporting to other members of the GGR
consortium, presenting at annual meetings, and other research events. You
will have excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational
skills, with
the ability to manage a varied workload.


Person Specification

You should provide evidence in your application that you meet the following
criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure your abilities
in these areas including reviewing your online application, seeking
references, inviting shortlisted candidates to interview and other forms of
assessment action relevant to the post.



The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer,
we commit to recruit and retain disabled applicants and support positive
action. We encourage disabled people to apply for our jobs and to have the
opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities at the interview
stage. We commit to offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the
minimum criteria for the job. For further information on the Disability
Confident Scheme, please follow the link.
<https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/>

*Criteria*

*Essential*

*Desirable*

1.

A PhD (or equivalent experience) in geochemistry, hydrogeology, water
quality modelling, geoscience or related fields.

X



2.

Experience and confidence in handling and processing large geospatial
datasets with GIS or similar software packages

X



3.

Experience with geochemical reactive transport modelling, including coding
skills



X

4.

Expertise in freshwater chemistry of rivers and/or groundwaters



X

5.

Demonstrable capacity for original thought and a strong interest in
multidisciplinary
research

X



6.

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, scientific paper
and report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations

X



7.

Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving.

X



8.

Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer- term
implications.

X



9.

Be highly motivated with the ability to work effectively both under own
initiative and within a team.

X



10.

Experience of a range of project management approaches.

X




About the Faculty



The Faculty of Science is one of the leading Science faculties within the
UK and one of five faculties within the University of Sheffield. We have a
turnover of £114m, over 1,000 staff and approximately 5000 students working
and studying across the classical science subjects. We organise ourselves
around three academic departments, and two schools:

·       Biosciences

·       Chemistry

·       Mathematics and Statistics

·       Physics and Astronomy

·       Psychology



Our mission is to understand our world, ourselves and our place in the
Universe. For further details about the Faculty of Science please visit our
website at www.sheffield.ac.uk/faculty/science


About the School



The School of Biosciences <https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/about>
has been created from a merger of the three Biology Departments: Animal and
Plant Sciences, Biomedical Science and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
The school brings together over 120 academics with a breadth and depth of
excellence in multiple areas. The school will create an enhanced Learning
and Teaching offering giving students opportunities to experience a greater
breadth of Bioscience teaching outside their main programme, and enhanced
leadership and coordination of research to better promote excellence and
successful exploitation of opportunities.


About the Team



You will be part of the high-profile research project: the Greenhouse Gas
Removal with UK agriculture via enhanced rock weathering Demonstrator,
funded by UKRI-BBSRC. The project modelling team (and Demonstrator) is led
by Professor D.J. Beerling FRS, and project partners at U. Leeds Professor
S.A. Banwart, and Professor L.J. West at University of Leeds.



Based in Sheffield, you will liaise with the Partner teams at: National
Oceanography Centre (NOC), Rothamsted Research, UK Centre for Ecology &
Hydrology (UKCEH) and Universities of Aberdeen, Cardiff, Heriot-Watt, Leeds,
Oxford and Southampton and also engage with the CO2RE Hub activities and
working groups, as required.




Job Description


Main Duties and Responsibilities



·       Conduct research to assess the security of carbon dioxide removal
(CDR) in the UK resulting from ERW during transport of weathered products
in rivers and groundwater from agricultural land to the marine environment.

·       Develop and undertake a modelling strategy for assessing the extent
to which greenhouse gas removal (GGR) efficiency by ERW may be affected by
carbonate precipitation or dissolution in soil, groundwater and river
systems during water flow and transport to the coastal margins at national
scale.

·       Model the fate of ERW products during transport in groundwater,
streams and rivers to consider the effect of alkalinity changes on pH and
aqueous carbonate speciation, carbonate mineral precipitation and carbon
dioxide gas exchange with the atmosphere.

·       Be responsible for writing scientific papers and reporting to other
members of the GGR consortium, presenting at annual meetings, and other
research events.

·       Develop and produce UK-wide scenario-based evaluation of the net GGR
potential of ERW and its contribution to the UK’s net zero target
incorporating new evaluation of critical uncertainties.

·       Liaise effectively with members of the GGR consortium, LC3M project
partners and other collaborators involved in the research programme.

·       Engage in and contribute to Research Project meetings, Working
Group meetings and Conferences, as required.

·       You will make a full and active contribution to the principles of
the ‘Sheffield Academic’. These include the achievement of excellence in
applied teaching and research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine
difference in the subject area and to the University’s achievements as a
whole.

·       As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical
decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy
into your working activities wherever possible.

·       Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.


Reward Package

*Terms and conditions of employment: *Will be those for Grade 7 staff.



*Salary for this grade: *£35,333 per annum.



*This post is fixed-term *with a start date as soon as possible and an end
date of 31 August 2025 (subject to continued funding beyond mid-point
review).



*This post is full-time:*

This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to
exploring flexible working opportunities with our staff which benefit both
the individual and the University. Therefore, we would consider flexible
delivery of the role subject to meeting the business needs of the post. If you
wish to explore flexible working opportunities in relation to this post, we
encourage you to call or email the departmental contact listed below.


*See job advert for more & to apply:
https://jobs.shef.ac.uk/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?ARAM=cG9zdF9pbnN0X2d1aWQ9NjMzQTNFNDc4OUFDMjgyRkUxMDAwMDAwQUMxRTg4NzgmY2FuZF90eXBlPUVYVA%3d%3d&sap-client=400&sap-language=EN&sap-accessibility=X&sap-ep-themeroot=%2fSAP%2fPUBLIC%2fBC%2fUR%2fuos

----


*Victoria Giordano-Bibby**Research Centre Manager*

-

Victoria Giordano-Bibby (she/her)
Research Centre Manager
Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation www.lc3m.org @lc3m_cdr
UK Enhanced Rock Weathering GGR Demonstrator @UKERW_GGRD
University of Sheffield, School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building,
Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
E: v.giordano-bibby at sheffield.ac.uk

Please note that *I work part-time, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday*. I am
currently splitting my working hours between on campus work and remote
working. My preferred method of contact is email.

At the University of Sheffield we value and encourage flexibility over
when, where and how we work. Please do not feel any pressure to respond
outside of your own working pattern.
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