[ES_JOBS_NET] Research Associate in modelling of freshwater geochemistry, University of Sheffield (UK)

[Victoria Giordano-Bibby]

*Research Associate in modelling of freshwater geochemistry*
University of Sheffield, England, UK
Job Reference Number: UOS037825
Job Title: Research Associate
Contract Type: Fixed-term until 31 August 2025 (subject to continued
funding)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Department: School of Biosciences
Salary: Grade 7 £36,333 per annum.
Closing Date: 8th August 2023

*Apply here
<https://jobs.shef.ac.uk/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PARAM=cG9zdF9pbnN0X2d1aWQ9NjRBRDNEMUI1MjdCMUFENEUxMDAwMDAwQUMxRTg4NzgmY2FuZF90eXBlPUVYVA%3d%3d&sap-client=400&sap-language=EN&sap-accessibility=X&sap-ep-themeroot=%2fSAP%2fPUBLIC%2fBC%2fUR%2fuos#>.
*

Summary:
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) (Beerling et al. 2020, Nature, 583, 242-248). 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.

You will have experience of geochemical measurements or modelling (e.g.
using PHREEQC, USGS hydrogeological code PHAST or similar codes).
Experience with aqueous geochemistry of soils, rivers and/or groundwaters,
and of handling geospatial datasets (i.e. using GIS codes such as ArcGIS)
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.

We’re one of the best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK.
The University’s Total Reward Package includes a competitive salary, a
generous Pension Scheme and annual leave entitlement, as well as access to
a range of learning and development courses to support your personal and
professional development. We build teams of people from different heritages
and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions
complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its
forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student
experience. To find out what makes the University of Sheffield a remarkable
place to work, watch this short film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LblLk18zmo,
and follow @sheffielduni and @ShefUniJobs on Twitter for more information.

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) (Beerling et al. 2020, Nature, 583, 242-248). 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 the University of 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 (Kantzas et al. 2022, Nat.
Geosci., 15, 382-389). 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.

You will have experience of geochemical measurements or modelling (e.g.
using PHREEQC, USGS hydrogeological code PHAST or similar codes).
Experience with aqueous geochemistry of soils, rivers and/or groundwaters,
and of handling geospatial datasets (i.e. using GIS codes such as ArcGIS)
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/>.

Essential criteria:

   - A PhD (or equivalent experience) in geochemistry, hydrogeology, water
   quality modelling, geoscience or related fields.
   - Experience with geochemical measurements or modelling.
   - Demonstrable capacity for original thought and a strong interest in
   multidisciplinary research
   - Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, scientific
   paper and report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations.
   - Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving. X 8.
   Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term
   implications.
   - Be highly motivated with the ability to work effectively both under
   own initiative and within a team.
   - Experience of a range of project management approaches.


Desirable criteria:

   - Experience and confidence in handling and processing geospatial
   datasets with ArcGIS or similar software packages.
   - Expertise in freshwater chemistry of rivers and/or groundwaters.


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 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 Professor S.A.
Banwart, and Professor L.J. West at the 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 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.
• 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: £36,333 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.

If you join the University you will have access to a Total Reward Package
that includes a competitive salary, a generous Pension Scheme and annual
leave entitlement, as well as access to a range of learning and development
courses to support your personal and professional development. You will
have access to your own personalised portal where you can also access a
comprehensive selection of benefits and offers to suit your changing
lifestyle needs, for example financial wellbeing, travel options, shopping
and cinema discounts.

The University is committed to tackling the global climate emergency. Our
sustainability strategy forms an integral part of all we do. We strive to
embed this in all areas of university life, from our students’ education,
the globally impacting international research we contribute, to campus
life.

We aim to empower staff to work sustainably by giving them the knowledge to
make ethical decisions at work and home. Staff have the opportunity to be
involved in impactful sustainability projects through the nationally
recognised Green Impact scheme.

Staff have access to excellent green benefits including the cycle to work
scheme with discounts and free secure bike storage, as well as many greener
choices across campus. If you have an interest in this area, the university
will strive to passionately support you in these commitments. Check out
www.sheffield.ac.uk/sustainability for more information.

The University of Sheffield recognises the importance of creating a
positive environment, whereby all staff feel able to talk openly and with
trust about wellbeing and mental health.

Our Staff Wellbeing offer encourages and supports staff to maintain their
own positive health and wellbeing through a range of accessible, inclusive
and supportive services and activities.

Our leadership development has been designed to ensure that our leaders
have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed by the University.

Inclusion at Sheffield is everyone's responsibility. Our vision is to build
a University community that actively attracts, engages and develops
talented individuals from many different backgrounds.

We are proud of our award-winning equality, diversity and inclusion action,
and we continue to work to create a fully inclusive environment where
everyone can flourish. To find out more about the benefits of working at
the University, visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits Selection – Next
Steps

Closing date: For details of the closing date please view this post on our
web pages at www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs

Following the closing date, we will contact you by email to let you know
whether or not you have been shortlisted to participate in the next stage
of the selection process. Please note that due to the large number of
applications that we receive, it may take up to two working weeks following
the closing date before the recruiting department will be able to contact
you. It is anticipated that interviews and other selection action will be
held in the weeks following the closing date. Full details will be provided
to invited candidates. For more information on our application and
recruitment processes visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/application-tips

Informal enquiries
For informal enquiries about this job and the recruiting department,
contact David Beerling’s PA: Clare Faulkner by email at
Clare.Faulkner at sheffield.ac.uk
For administration queries and details on the application process, contact
the School of Biosciences HR Team at bioscienceshradmin at sheffield.ac.uk

For all online application system queries and support, visit:
www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/faqs

Creating a remarkable place to work
We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from
across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to
greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater
impact through research, teaching and student experience.

We are consistently ranked in the top 100 of the world’s universities, but
there’s so much more to us than that. By joining the University, you will
be joining award-winning teams and departments who are all working together
to make the University of Sheffield a remarkable place to work.

--


*Victoria Giordano-Bibby**Research Centre Manager: **LC3M & UK ERW GGR-D*

-

Victoria Giordano-Bibby (she/her)
Research Centre Manager
Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation
<https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/lc3m> @lc3m_cdr
UK Enhanced Rock Weathering GGR Demonstrator
<https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/uk-enhanced-weathering> @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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