We are the University of Cumbria, for and from Cumbria and our localities, rooted in serving our communities, with people, place and partnership at our heart.
Now is a very exciting time to be joining us because we are delivering a new "Towards 2030" strategic plan focused on making the most of our three most valuable assets; People, Place and Partnerships, to become a catalyst for economic well-being for our region, nationally and internationally.
The University of Cumbria is seeking a dynamic and highly motivated individual to join the Institute of Science and Environment as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, supporting the delivery of the ERC consolidator grant, Inducible Defences, awarded to Professor Robert A. Montgomery via the UKRI guarantee scheme (i.e., the UKRI Frontier Research Grant). This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an internationally significant programme within the university. The selected candidate will work within the broader Innovation for Conservation (ICON) team assessing the implications of human-predator-prey interactions in East Africa. Specifically, this project involves quantifying the nature and strength of Africa lion, spotted hyena, and Ugandan kob interactions using a diversity of data collection technologies including GPS telemetry, camera traps, satellite imagery, among others.
This role is based on-site at our Ambleside campus due to the practical nature of the work. Ambleside campus lies in the Heart of the Lake District National Park which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering incredible practical and fieldwork opportunities on our doorstep. It is expected that the selected candidate will carry out research on emergent technological sensors for remote animal behavioural observation, empirical data collection of human-predator-prey interactions, and computer simulations to quantify the nature and strength of these interactions. The candidate should have experience with analysis of GPS telemetry data and camera traps and subsequent development of movement models to explain predator-prey interactions.
There will be the expectation of field work in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda to facilitate this research. The post-holder will work closely with other empirically-focused post-docs, a team of researchers in the field, and broader collaborators.
The selected candidate will have a PhD, or be close to finishing a PhD, in conservation science, animal behaviour, quantitative ecology, or equivalent.
Informal Enquiries: Prof. Robert A. Montgomery | Professor of Conservation Science | Director of the Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas | Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange | Institute of Science and Environment | T: 44 (0)7971 313426 | E: robert.montgomery@cumbria.ac.uk
We are seeking innovative, creative, high quality researchers, and scholars to foster a culture of exploration, discovery and intellectual challenge that generates international recognition, respect and engagement.
In return, the University offers an attractive benefits package including 35 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, support for professional development, mentor provision in the first year of employment and opportunity for career development.
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