Research Associate in Urban Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Join our major new inter-disciplinary NERC-funded project on biodiversity impacts of urban climate change adaptation at one of the UK’s leading Architecture and Landscape schools. This role offers an outstanding opportunity to generate high quality research and innovation, assessing urban biodiversity and the impacts of nature-based climate solutions.

Under the supervision of Tom Wild, and working in collaboration with the UKRI GP4Streets team, you will use ecological monitoring techniques, spatial analysis and statistical models, to assess the biodiversity impacts of urban greening and retrofitted interventions such as SUDS (sustainable urban drainage systems). Working with project partners you will use the results to establish if and how urban developments can be reimagined, to improve outcomes for nature. You will have strong ecological fieldwork experience, GIS skills and project planning expertise.

You will benefit from being a member of a world leading research group in a School consistently ranked in the top 5 in the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF). The position offers the successful candidate a chance to benefit from a large, vibrant and supportive Early Career Researcher community, and inter-disciplinary collaborations with team members regularly publishing in top tier journals.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Take a leading role in co-designing and delivering research in line with project objectives.
• Plan and conduct ecological monitoring fieldwork in three English cities, utilising novel instrumentation and tried-and-tested sampling methods (vegetation, birds, insects).
• Use GIS and other tools to understand and map habitats and other indicators of ecological status in a range of urban and peri-urban settings, to support the assessment of impacts of retrofitted interventions and urbanisation pressures on ecosystems and habitats.
• Develop and utilise new knowledge bases on measured and predicted impacts of nature-based solutions on urban biodiversity, and related fields of landscape ecology and management.
• Communicate research findings/outcomes to the scientific community through publication in leading academic journals, and at conferences.
• Use a range of modelling and statistical analyses to assess the biodiversity impacts and wider ecological quality criteria.
• Work collaboratively with project partners to enhance research impact through knowledge exchange and wider communication through professional publications, policy briefings, and the wider media.
• Develop and maintain collaborations with colleagues across the project, with GP4Streets partners and wider networks investigating impacts of nature-based solutions.
• Take a leading role in organising and managing research, wider project activities and administrative tasks to ensure the effective running of the project.
• Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post as agreed with your line manager.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Have completed or be near to completing a PhD in a relevant discipline (ecology, landscape, eco-hydrology). (Assessed at application / interview)
• Experience of generating, manipulating and synthesising GIS data and maps. (Assessed at application / interview)
• Excellent quantitative analysis skills including development and application of statistical models and tests (e.g. using R). (Assessed at application / interview)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills across a range of academic and stakeholder communities. (Assessed at application / interview)
• Evidence of engagement with the scientific publication process, including publishing of peer reviewed articles. (Assessed at application / interview)
• Ecological fieldwork experience. (Assessed at application / interview)
• Understanding of landscape ecological- or landscape architectural- research addressing interventions such as nature-based solutions. (Assessed at application / interview)

Desirable criteria

• Working knowledge of UK flora, fauna and habits. (Assessed at application / interview)
• Driving licence. (Assessed at application / interview)

Further Information

Grade: 7

Salary: £38,249 - £46,735

Work arrangement: Full-time

Duration: 18 months

Line manager: Tom Wild, Principle Investigator

Direct reports: N/A

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/architecture-landscape

For informal enquiries about this job contact

Tom Wild, Principle Investigator: on [email protected]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 15th September. This will consist of an interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 1st September. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Gemma Fearnley-Cook on [email protected]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• support for those going through the menopause
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 27/07/2025

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.