Faculty of Science and Engineering

Job Description

Job Title: Research Assistant

Grade: 4

Job Family: Teaching, Research and Scholarship

Work Base: Cambridge. Please note that the post-holder may be

required to travel to other sites as necessary.

Hours of Work: Full time, 1.0 FTE, 1 Year fixed term

Responsible to: Dr Dannielle Green

Responsible for: No direct line management responsibility

Relationships and Contacts: Colleagues, students

Professional and external bodies

Job Purpose: To undertake primary research including laboratory

experiments and providing research support to the
Principal Investigators.

Project background details

Discarded cigarette butts (filters) are one of the most common litter items globally.
Approximately 6 trillion cigarettes are smoked worldwide every year and an estimated
two thirds of these end up littered in the environment. Cigarette butts represent a
unique dual combination of physical and chemical pollution given that they are
comprised of a bioplastic (cellulose acetate) and that they contain many chemicals after
smoking, several of which are known to exert toxic effects in biota.

The Applied Ecology Research Group is at the forefront of research on the

environmental impacts of cigarette butts. We pioneered research on the effects of
cigarette butts on the growth and development of plants and the survival and behaviour
of freshwater and marine invertebrates in response to plastic compared with novel
biodegradable cigarette filters. We are passionate about applied research which moves
beyond the ivory tower towards conservation goals. Our research has helped to raise
awareness of the impacts of this often-overlooked litter item but has also helped to
influence policymakers and work towards solutions.
Not only will you be working at the forefront of this exciting and important research
topic, but you will also be liaising with our funders at Keep Britain Tidy to ensure our
results are used to make a real-world impact by raising awareness and changing policy
in this area.

Principal Accountabilities:

1. Provide support to the academic research manager for ongoing research

projects.

2. Contribute to the planning of the research project.

3. Assist the lead academic researcher with the day-to-day

administration/organisation of the project(s).

4. Undertake research with support from the lead academic researcher, for
example; preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcomes of
experiments.

5. Assist with literature and database searches.

6. Assist with qualitative/quantitative analysis and the dissemination of

research findings.

7. Assist with the writing of research reports/papers as directed by the lead

academic researcher.

8. Liaise with internal and external contacts to assist with the work of the
project.

9. Attend and contribute to relevant research meetings.

10. Incorporate research ethics policies into the planning and undertaking of the
research.

11. Work to achieve our vision and values in respect of widening participation,
equality of opportunity, commitment to the health and safety of students and
colleagues and the delivery of high quality education provision.

12. Comply with Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR requirements in all working
practices maintaining confidentiality, integrity, availability, accuracy, currency
and security of information as appropriate. Take personal responsibility for all
personal data within own working environment.

13. Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be

required, commensurate with your grade.

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is normal practice

to review periodically job descriptions to ensure that they are relevant to the job
currently being performed, and to incorporate any changes which have occurred
or are being proposed. The review process is carried out jointly by manager and
employee and you are therefore expected to participate fully in such discussions.
In all cases, it is our aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes, but where it
is not possible to reach agreement we reserve the right to make reasonable
changes to your job description which are commensurate with your grade after
consultation with you.

February 2023
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Research Assistant
Person Specification

ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE
ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL
QUALIFICATIONS
• degree in relevant discipline (e.g. biology, • Higher degree (e.g. MSc) in relevant
ecology, environmental sciences, discipline
ecotoxicology)

EXPERIENCE
• Experience of writing concise but
comprehensive reports/papers
• Experience in setting up and maintaining
experiments
• Experience with working in a responsible
and independent manner in a laboratory
setting
• Experience of working with live model
invertebrate animals and/or plants in the
laboratory
• Experience of undertaking independent
research
• Experience of the academic research
environment
• Experience of disseminating results

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
• Understanding of the research area • Knowledge of research methods and
• Excellent written and oral design
communication skills
• IT literate with a sound knowledge of
Microsoft Office
• Ability to think innovatively
• Ability to meet deadlines, sometimes
under pressure
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to critically
analyse data/information

PERSONAL QUALITIES/DISPOSITION
• Ability to work as part of a team • Understanding of the national research
• Enthusiastic and flexible approach context
• Good interpersonal and negotiating
skills
• Willingness to contribute to the
collective life of the
Faculty/Professional Service
OTHER
• Understanding of the external
environment in which we operate
• Commitment to own continuous
personal and professional
development
• Willing and able to travel, as
required by the job
• Committed to equality and diversity
• Committed to our Health and Safety
policies and procedures
• Compliance to Data Protection Act
2018 and GDPR principles/
requirements

February 2023