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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We seek a Research Associate with expertise in evolutionary biology and population genetics to join our dynamic research group in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Research Cluster, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield.

Our group is interested in the drivers of reproductive success and failure in wild animal populations, focusing primarily on egg-laying vertebrates. We combine a range of approaches, including field-based experiments and observational studies, long term population monitoring, laboratory-based fertility and embryology analyses, and quantitative genetics.

In this project, you will employ your existing quantitative genetics and data analysis skills to study reproductive trade-offs in a threatened bird population, using a unique long-term breeding and pedigree dataset. Our group is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, and during this project you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues at the Zoological Society of London, University of Auckland (New Zealand), and Hihi Recovery Group/New Zealand Department of Conservation.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent postdoctoral level work experience) in a relevant discipline (e.g. evolutionary biology or population genetics or an equivalent discipline). They will have strong quantitative genetics skills, experience of analysing long-term population monitoring data, and demonstrable independent problem-solving ability. They will have already published in internationally recognised, peer-reviewed scientific journals and be confident delivering a research project from concept through to dissemination.

We are committed to providing an equitable selection process, as well as an inclusive research environment for the successful candidate. All applicants will be judged according to the selection criteria outlined below. If you would like to provide any contextual information to support your application, for example regarding any delays, disruption, or barriers to your research progress/outputs, please provide a paragraph explaining this in your supporting statement.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Reporting to the PI, undertake research in evolutionary biology and population genetics in line with the project requirements.
• Manage own research and administrative activities, including small scale project management, to successfully coordinate your own workload and meet deadlines.
• Manage data collection and storage responsibly on a day-to-day basis.
• Read and review relevant literature as appropriate.
• Independently learn, adapt, and develop research methodologies and materials.
• Test hypotheses and analyse scientific data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining working hypotheses as appropriate.
• Liaise closely with the PI and other academics and carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions/research groups.
• Lead on the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles.
• Contribute to (and, if appropriate, assist in running) relevant conferences, public meetings, practitioner workshops, and/or advisory group meetings.
• Support project reporting requirements e.g., progress reporting, financial monitoring.
• Contribute ideas for new research projects.
• Develop ideas for generating research income and present research proposals to senior researchers.
• Act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on scientific protocols and experimental techniques.
• Teach or undertake ad-hoc teaching (this may include lecturing, demonstrating, small group teaching, tutoring of undergraduates and graduate students and supervision of projects).
• Embed the principles of mutual respect, equality, diversity, inclusivity and sustainability in all aspects of your work; undertake training as and when asked to do so.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent postdoctoral level work experience) in Evolutionary Biology, Population Genetics, or an equivalent discipline (assessed at: application).
• Experience in undertaking quantitative genetics analyses (assessed at: application).
• Experience of working with long term population monitoring data (assessed at: application).
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistics using R (assessed at: application and interview).
• Experience of publishing scientific papers and presenting work at conferences (assessed at: application).
• Ability to manage own academic research and associated activities (assessed at: interview).
• Ability to independently problem-solve (assessed at: application and interview).
• Ability to contribute new ideas for research projects and grant proposals (assessed at: interview).

Desirable criteria

• A good understanding of reproductive biology and behaviour, particularly in egg-laying vertebrates (assessed at: application).
• Experience of working collaboratively with multiple research groups on the development of research articles for publication (assessed at: application and interview).

Further Information

Grade: 7

Salary: £38,249 - £39,355 per annum

Work arrangement: Full-time. Part-time and/or flexible options (including hybrid) considered.

Duration: 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2027

Line manager: Senior Research Fellow

Direct reports: None

Our website: School of Biosciences

For informal enquiries about this job contact Dr Nicola Hemmings, Senior Research Fellow: n.hemmings@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

Following initial eligibility checks and short-listing of candidates based on application documents, it is anticipated that the selection process will take place remotely during the week commencing 2 June 2025. This will consist of a 10-minute online presentation by the candidate on a previous research project of their choice, followed by 10 minutes of questioning related to the presentation, and 20 minutes of questioning related to the advertised role. We plan to let candidates know if they have been successful on the week commencing 9 June 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Dr Nicola Hemmings (n.hemmings@sheffield.ac.uk).

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
 

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes integrated with our Academic Career Pathway.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 15/05/2025 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.