Postdoc: Environmental DNA to study marine biodiversity (UK)

SeaDNA - Assessing marine biodiversity and structure using environmental DNA: from groundtruthing to food web structure and stability.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with interests in evolutionary biology and ecology to take a key role in a new £1M collaborative project studying environmental DNA (eDNA) in marine ecosystems. The overall objective of the project is to test the potential for eDNA as a tool for
marine biodiversity assessment. The key aims of the project are to i) establish how long eDNA from fish and invertebrates persists in the marine environment before it is broken down beyond the point of detectability, 2) test the ability of eDNA to be used as a tool in surveying and monitoring marine species, through direct comparisons of eDNA data to those from traditional surveys, 3) use eDNA data for reconstructing food webs, test for stability in food webs over space and time. The project will combine experimental work on eDNA degradation in the laboratory with analyses of eDNA samples collected from European shelf seas and the Southern Ocean. The project is a partnership between the University of Bristol (Martin Genner), Salford University (Stefano Mariani), British Antarctic Survey (Geraint Tarling, Sophie Fielding and Will Goodall-Copestake), the Marine Biological Association (David Sims) and Imperial College (Eoin O'Gorman).

Key roles of will be undertaking experimental work on eDNA degradation in
the laboratory, conducting analyses of eDNA samples collected from European
shelf seas and the Southern Ocean, liaising closely with partners
organisations to ensure project progression, disseminating research through
talks and peer reviewed manuscripts, and contributing to project impact
through engagement with research end-users. You should have a doctoral
degree and should also have an aptitude for experimental design, and
enthusiasm for aquarium-based experiments and fieldwork. You should also
have experience of molecular laboratory work and knowledge of
bioinformatics tools.. There is funding to support this post for 39 months,
is Bristol based, and will start on 1 March 2016.

Closing Date 10 January 2014, with interviews in mid-late January.
Salary £31656 to £35609 per annum.
For the job description and information on how to apply, visit
http://www.bris.ac.uk/jobs/find/ using the job reference code: ACAD101769

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Martin Genner
(m.genner@bristol.ac.uk)

Dr Martin Genner
School of Biological Sciences
University of Bristol
Bristol Life Sciences Building
24 Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1TQ

Tel: +44 (0) 117 39 41182