THE POST

College: College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Post: Postdoctoral Research Associate

Reference No: P80501

Grade: E (sp26)

HERA: ARF

Reporting To: Prof. Richard Brazier

Responsible For: N/A

The above full time post is available immediately on a fixed term basis until 30 April 2023, in the Centre for
Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Job Description

Main purpose of the job:

The role provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to the suite of research being undertaken at the
University of Exeter to understand the environmental impacts the return of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)
to Great Britain. The main component of this is to expand and upscale our understanding of the hydrological
impacts of beaver using a range modelling, statistical and geospatial approaches. This will involve working
closely with partner organisations such as the Environment Agency to ensure that our research is incorporated
into flood and catchment management strategies at the national level.

The post holder will also support other wider beaver reintroduction and environmental resilience research
activities being carried out by Prof Richard Brazier, Dr Alan Puttock, other colleagues and partner organisations
to inform our wider understanding of the role and impact of beaver in Great Britain. This may include activities
such as geospatial data analysis, mapping, and modelling.

The post holder will be employed as a postdoctoral research associate within the Centre for Resilience in
Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) at the University of Exeter Streatham campus.

(Refer to job advert and adapt short sentence)

Main duties and accountabilities:

1. To develop impact and support research activities within the fields of hydrology, hydrological modelling,
geospatial analysis and catchment management, under the direction of the principal investigator, as
appropriate to the projects. Responsibilities may include:

 Collaborating with key non-academic partners including the Environment Agency and Wildlife Trusts.
 Work with large environmental datasets (i.e. rainfall and hydrological data) to derive statistical
relationships with the aim of parameterising modelling approaches.
 Incorporate empirical results and geospatial understanding into existing modelling approaches used
by partner organisations (i.e., flood risk estimation approach used by Environment Agency).
 Undertake rainfall-runoff modelling simulations across a range of beaver reintroduction and damming
scenarios.
 Use novel and innovative approaches to communicate modelling and geospatial outputs.
  Writing up research work for publication.
 Developing research objectives and proposals for own or joint research.
 Presenting information on research progress and outcomes to bodies supervising research, e.g.
steering groups, sponsors or members of research groups.
 Assisting in the preparation of papers or reports for steering groups and other bodies.
 Adapting to challenges which may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
 Analysing and interpreting the results of own research and generating original ideas based on
outcomes;
 Using new research techniques and methods;
 Using initiative and creativity to identify novel areas for research and developing new research
methods to extend the research group’s portfolio;
 Making use of standard research techniques and methods ;
 Using creativity to analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.

2. To contribute to teaching and to be involved in the assessment of student knowledge including

assisting in the supervision of student projects and in the development of student research skills.

3. To work in collaboration with colleagues as appropriate to the field of study including:

 Contributing to collaborative decision making within the research group;

 Contributing to the production of collaborative research reports and publications.
 Preparing papers and presenting information on research progress and outcomes to bodies
supervising the research, e.g., steering groups.

4. To communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically.

5. To prepare proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for funding and contractual purposes

6. To contribute to the planning of research projects.

7. To use research resources, laboratories and workshops as appropriate and to take responsibility for
reducing hazards and for the health and safety of others. Where appropriate, will also be responsible
for conducting risk assessments.

8. To monitor research budgets as appropriate.

9. To engage in continuous professional development and to be responsible for continually updating

knowledge and understanding in field of study or specialism and for developing skills.

This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the post and is not comprehensive:
the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties of similar level and responsibility. Please visit the
Human Resources website to view the Research Fellow role profiles.

Person Specification

Competency Essential Desirable

Attainments/Qualifications
Skills and Understanding
PhD (or nearing completion) or
equivalent
qualification/experience in a
related field of study, such as
Geography, Hydrology or
Environmental Science.
Sufficient knowledge in the Evidence of research activity and
discipline and of research published research.
methods and techniques to work
within established research Evidence of producing
programmes. reproducible code with strong
informative documentation.
Interest and understanding of
hydrology, natural flood

2
 management or catchment
management science.
Good quantitative and qualitative
research skills, and primary
research experience in geospatial
and GIS analysis.
A strong background in statistical
analysis.
Experience of rainfall-runoff
hydrological modelling.
Experience with sharing and
collaborating on large coding
projects i.e. using GitHub.
Experience with flood risk
assessment and associated
analysis I.e. The Flood
Estimation Handbook.
Experience with 2D and 3D
hydrological models and
experience with hydraulic
modelling software I.e. HEC-
RAS.

Experience with scientific Experience sharing and

programming languages, such as communicating model outputs in
using R and/or Python. novel and/or interactive ways.

Competent Microsoft suite user Experience with machine

Prior Experience
learning software such as
Excellent organisational skills, TensorFlow and/or PyTorch
with experience of working to
deadlines and setting and
keeping to short, medium and
long-term goals.
Experience of handling complex Experience of collaborating with
spatial and temporal non-academic organisations.
environmentaln data.
Experience of undergraduate
Experience of managing research teaching
projects.

Understanding of health and

safety legislation.
Behavioural Characteristics Excellent written and verbal
communication skills.

Able to communicate material of

a specialist or highly technical
nature.

Able to manage research and

administrative activities and to
balance the competing pressures
of research and administrative
demands and deadlines.

Able to liaise with colleagues

(academic, industry and third
sector).

Able to build contacts and

participate in internal and external
networks for the exchange of
information and collaboration.

Able to identify potential sources

of funding.

Actively participate as a member

of a research team.

3
 Engage in continuous
professional development.

Understand equal opportunity

issues as they may impact on
areas of research content.

Where appropriate to the role,

willingness to undergo training in
order to conduct risk
assessments.

An understanding of the
importance of equality and
diversity within an organisation
and a commitment to helping
create an inclusive culture.
Circumstances Willing to work flexibly to achieve
project demands

Informal Enquiries
Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting Prof Richard Brazier,
Director of the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste via email: r.e.brazier@exeter.ac.uk.

Terms & Conditions

Our Terms and Conditions of Employment can be viewed here.

Further Information
Please see our website for further information on working at the University of Exeter.