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For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Ryan Mushinski (Associate Professor) Ryan.Mushinski@warwick.ac.uk
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Research Technician to join an exciting NERC-funded research project investigating Nitrous Acid (HONO) production in soils and its effects on carbon and nitrogen cycling. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team researching the microbial and molecular mechanisms behind HONO emissions from soil, with significant implications for understanding climate change feedbacks.
The technician will provide key technical support to post-doctoral researchers and principal investigators, specifically working on molecular techniques to understand how ammonia-oxidising bacteria and archaea contribute to HONO production. The role involves extensive laboratory work with pure microbial cultures, soil incubations, RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, molecular analyses, and managing laboratory equipment.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface of environmental microbiology, soil biogeochemistry, and atmospheric chemistry, with the potential to influence future climate change modelling and sustainable land management practices.
We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.
The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in molecular biological techniques and plant handling, with a strong background in planning and executing laboratory experiments. You should be comfortable working in both laboratory and greenhouse environments, with experience in managing day-to-day project activities, including equipment maintenance and purchasing consumables.
You will have excellent communication skills, demonstrated by your ability to take an active role in laboratory meetings, present research findings, and draft results for scientific publications. Experience in supervising less experienced staff and students would be advantageous.
A vocational qualification at NVQ Level 4, HNC/HND, or education to 'A' level standard in biology or chemistry and/or a relevant science subject is essential, though a degree in a related subject area (e.g., Environmental Science, Microbiology, Soil Science) would be desirable.
Knowledge of soil biogeochemistry, nitrogen cycling, or microbial ecology would be particularly valuable for this position.
For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.
The School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick is a vibrant research environment with world-class facilities and expertise across a range of disciplines. This project brings together researchers from different specialties, creating an exciting interdisciplinary team studying the connections between microbial processes, soil biogeochemistry, and atmospheric chemistry.
The core team is comprised of Dr Ryan Mushinski (Project Lead) who has broad expertise in nitrogen cycle biogeochemistry, Prof Gary Bending (Project Co-Lead) who has expertise in soil surface processes, and Prof James Covington (Project Co-Lead) who has expertise in environmental engineering and sensor development. The team also includes specialists in X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, and nitrogen cycle biogeochemistry.
You will be joining a collaborative and supportive team at the forefront of research into soil nitrogen cycling and its impacts on climate.
School of Life Sciences
For further information about the School of Life Sciences please see our website at
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci
We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent environment; this ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly. We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics.
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.
You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.
*QS World University Rankings 2024
** Research Excellence Framework 2021
To find out more about us visit our website.
CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 20th May 2025 at 23:55 (BST)
To apply, please click ‘Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date.
Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application form past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 23:30).
You will have to attach a CV and a cover letter.
Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and explaining below, using examples, how you meet the criterion, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.
To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications submitted via our official careers webpage, warwick-careers.tal.net.
We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 26 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with.
In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity, will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).
We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.
Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders
The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
