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Applications are invited for the post of Research Assistant in the Bat Conservation Research Lab based in the Milner Centre for Evolution at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, one of the UK’s most prestigious universities.

About the role:

There is urgent need to understand how global environmental changes impact biodiversity. Urbanisation is a significant factor in current and predicted species extinctions and a major threat to biodiversity. Specifically, artificial lighting associated with urbanisation has been identified as a key biodiversity threat. Despite a better understanding of the impacts of artificial lights on animal behaviour, no studies have yet assessed responses at both the genomic, reproductive and physiological levels.

Led by Dr Emma Stone at the University of Bath alongside collaborators at the University of Exeter and UWE this project will address this major gap in global change research through applying a novel interdisciplinary approach combining ecological, genomic, physiological and demographic tools to experimentally study the effect of artificial lighting on nocturnal wildlife, focusing on bats.

We will focus on the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), a light sensitive species that commonly roosts in buildings.

About you:

We are seeking an experienced Research Assistant who will conduct the ecological work packages on this project over the next three years.

Data collection will involve extensive night work surveying bats, conducting lighting experiments at roosts and measuring colony fitness working away from the university unsupervised, therefore a driving licence will be essential.

We are looking for candidates who are reliable, resourceful and have a positive attitude to the challenges of field work.

About us:

The Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath offers a range of Bioscience and Biomedical degrees including an accredited Pharmacy degree. Our research spans a diverse range of areas, from drug discovery science and healthcare, to evolutionary biology and biodiversity and was ranked as world leading or internationally competitive in the REF2021 assessment.

Further information:

This is a fixed-term contract until February 2026.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Dr Emma Stone ([email protected]), however, please submit your application via the University website.

What we can offer you:

• a very generous employer contributory pension scheme
• generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• we are a family-friendly University and with an increasingly agile workforce, are open to flexible working arrangements
• an excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities
• a number of support options available for new and existing staff to help with the cost of some immigration expenses which you may be eligible for: Relocation allowance, Visa Reimbursement, Interest-Free Loan.

We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups such as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled people, and value the positive impact that will have on our teams.

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

Find out from our staff what makes the University of Bath a great place to work. Follow us @UniofBath and @UniofBathJobs on Twitter for more information.