[ES_JOBS_NET] Post-doctoral research associate in modelling freshwater geochemistry at the University of Sheffield

[Victoria Giordano-Bibby]

Research Associate: Modelling Freshwater Geochemistry



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: 15th October 2023



*Apply here
<https://jobs.shef.ac.uk/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PARAM=cG9zdF9pbnN0X2d1aWQ9NjUwMjE4QTE2NDAzNDc4RkUxMDAwMDAwQUMxRTg4NzgmY2FuZF90eXBlPUVYVA%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.

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/>.
Criteria

Essential:

•       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.

•       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:

•       Experience and confidence in handling and processing geospatial
datasets with ArcGIS or similar software packages.

•       Expertise in freshwater chemistry of rivers and/or groundwaters


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.

-
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.


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 University of Sheffield

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.



*Apply here
<https://jobs.shef.ac.uk/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PARAM=cG9zdF9pbnN0X2d1aWQ9NjUwMjE4QTE2NDAzNDc4RkUxMDAwMDAwQUMxRTg4NzgmY2FuZF90eXBlPUVYVA%3d%3d&sap-client=400&sap-language=EN&sap-accessibility=X&sap-ep-themeroot=%2fSAP%2fPUBLIC%2fBC%2fUR%2fuos>*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.ucar.edu/pipermail/es_jobs_net/attachments/20230928/df31682a/attachment.htm>