Research Assistant - Forest Ecology

Job summary

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry practitioners, land managers and anyone with green space, UK-wide. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and ways of safeguarding those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

A Research Assistant position is available to support a portfolio of forest ecology research projects. The post-holder will be based at the Alice Holt Forest Research (FR) station in Surrey within the Centre for Forest Management and will work as part of a multidisciplinary team. The role will involve a combination of field, laboratory and office-based activities, contributing to the delivery of research that improves understanding of forest ecosystems and informs sustainable woodland management.

Job description

Fieldwork activities

These will include ecological assessments of biotic and abiotic variables across diverse forest habitats (e.g. wet woodlands, plantations and ancient woodlands) and agroforestry systems. Environmental data collection will include measurements and sample collection to characterise site conditions (e.g. soil sampling for physical and chemical analysis). Biological assessments will include standardised multi-taxa biodiversity surveys (e.g. ground vegetation and fungi assessments, arthropod trapping, bat and bird acoustic monitoring). Activities may also include minor construction, installation and maintenance of equipment and infrastructure at long-term field experiment sites. The successful applicant should enjoy working outdoors in varied weather conditions and be flexible to travel regularly across Great Britain, including occasional overnight stays.

Laboratory-based work

These will involve supporting with the management and daily workings of the Ecology Laboratory at Alice Holt. Specific lab-based activities will include processing and preparation of ecological samples (e.g. mammal eDNA samples, ectomycorrhizal root tips, bulk arthropod samples) prior to downstream environmental DNA (eDNA) molecular analyses. Some of the work will involve the cleaning and sterilisation of equipment used for eDNA and other molecular sampling. The post-holder will have the opportunity to learn basic species identification skills for multiple taxonomic groups (e.g. bryophytes, fungi, arthropods).

Office-based activities

These will include support with survey site selection and fieldwork preparation (e.g. accommodation and travel logistics, and data sheet preparation). The post-holder will also have opportunities to contribute to data analysis, the preparation of reports and scientific outputs, and the development of external funding applications.

The Centre for Forest Management leads FR's research into climate change, urban forests, silviculture, land use and ecosystem services, and the ways in which society values trees. Within the Centre for Forest Management, the science teams that the candidate will be supporting deliver evidence, methods and tools to help policymakers and practitioners understand how land use and climate change affect the biodiversity, resilience and ecosystem services of wooded landscapes, now and in the future. We combine spatial analysis with ecological and forestry knowledge to deliver scientifically robust insights relevant to policy and practice.

The post-holder will contribute to the delivery of several research projects over the coming years. The role will involve a combination of field, laboratory and office-based work, undertaken in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of forest ecologists, climate change scientists and other specialists across FR. The successful candidate will be expected to work as part of a team, receiving training, guidance and mentorship from PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and senior scientific staff. Projects the post-holder might support with include:

• Trees Outside Woodland (ToW) which aims to improve the identification, monitoring and ecological assessment of Ancient and Veteran (AV) lone trees and other ToW across Great Britain.

• Forest Wilding which monitors changes in biodiversity as landscapes are allowed to naturally progress towards a more natural, unmanaged state with and without supporting interventions.

• Large-scale Ecosystem Recovery Network (LERN), a large-scale long-term field experiment to study the ecological outcomes of woodland creation under a range of management approaches.

• Supporting Woodlands into Management (S-WiM) is a project investigating the links between forest management, woodland ecological condition and biodiversity, working also at improving trackside linear woodland biodiversity gains.

• Biodiversity Across Forest Types (BioX4Types) is a project assessing the composition of multiple taxonomic groups as shaped by distinct forest types across Great Britain.

Key Work Areas

The successful applicant will be required to:

• Liaise with colleagues and project managers to develop realistic work schedules.
• Support field site selection, logistics, equipment procurement and delivery of field campaigns.
• Undertake ecological field surveys across Great Britain, including travel and overnight stays where required.
• Conduct multi-taxa biodiversity monitoring using standardised methods, including ground vegetation and fungal surveys, arthropod sampling, bat and bird acoustic monitoring, and ecological assessments of Ancient and Veteran trees.
• Process ecological samples in the laboratory, including environmental DNA (eDNA), bulk arthropod and other biological samples prior to downstream analyses.
• Prepare, maintain and sterilise field and laboratory equipment, ensuring quality assurance and contamination control for eDNA sampling.
• Support with managing laboratory standards in the Ecology Lab at our Alice Holt Research Station.
• Assist in the preparation of technical reports, scientific publications, presentations and other research outputs.
• Work effectively within a multidisciplinary team while maintaining high standards of health and safety, scientific integrity and data quality.
• Carry out minor construction, installation, and maintenance of equipment and infrastructure at long-term field experiment sites.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Undergraduate degree or similar relevant qualification (e.g. Foundation Degree) with substantial content in ecology, environmental science, forest science, physical science, or biological sciences, or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Experience of ecology fieldwork, ecological sampling techniques, and the measurement of physical variables
• Excellent organisational, sample/data handling and record keeping skills
• Experience in good laboratory practice including the use of microscopes, H&S processes
• Willingness to undertake seasonal fieldwork throughout the year across Great Britain, including regular travel and occasional overnight stays *

Travel and overni