Research Fellow - Landscape Dynamics and Ecology

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to work at the University of Southampton on a full time fixed term basis until 31/12/2022. The project is funded by The Leverhulme Trust, on "Unnatural dynamics of flood deposits in built environments".

Population and land-use pressures on river and coastal floodplains means that flood events deposit large volumes of sediment and debris in built environments. These "unnatural" flood deposits are ubiquitous, delay emergency response, and are costly to clean up. We aim to predict how spatial characteristics of built environments control the shape, scale, movement, and distribution of flood deposits. We will measure and model flood deposits in built and non-built environments to quantify and explain their differences. This project is a formative step in transdisciplinary research into how natural phenomena interact with and impact built environments.

We seek a self-motivated, intellectually curious, quantitative scientist with ready skills in writing and using open-source code (e.g., Python, R). Candidates should have a PhD* or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in a relevant subject area. A background in physical geography is preferred, but not essential: candidates with a background in cognate disciplines (e.g., physics, fluid dynamics, coastal/fluvial engineering, computer science) are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will work closely with the two principal investigators (Dr Eli Lazarus, at Southampton, & Dr Evan Goldstein, at the University of North Carolina Greensboro), and will collaborate with, and help to mentor, a PhD student also working on the project. The post is hosted in the School of Geography & Environmental Science at the University of Southampton.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Eli Lazarus ( E.D.Lazarus@soton.ac.uk ) and/or Dr Evan Goldstein ( ebgoldst@uncg.edu ).

It is anticipated that interviews will take place November 2021.

The School of Geography and Environmental Science is committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion . We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, and particularly encourage applications from candidates belonging to groups who are under-represented within academic posts at the University, including, but not limited to: people from Black and minority ethnic groups; and disabled people. The School are committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offer a range of family friendly policies, flexi-time and flexible working. We are a Disability Confident employer and the School holds a bronze Athena SWAN award.

We are a signatory to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and can provide opportunities for career development and mentoring.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.