Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Organic Geochemistry

Investigate photosynthetic carbon uptake and lipid biosynthesis in phytoplankton to understand geological carbon cycle changes.

Best for:Best for postdoctoral researchers or experienced scientists with expertise in organic geochemistry, stable isotopes, and phytoplankton culturing.

University of Bristol · South West England, United Kingdom · R2 · Recognised researcher

More professors at University of Bristol

Organic GeochemistryStable Isotope GeochemistryPhytoplankton BiosynthesisCarbon Cycle EvolutionLipid Analysis

This is a postdoc position — not a PhD studentship.

Deadline

Oct 29, 2026

14 days

Funding

Salaried

£39.9k–£50.3k/yr

Start date

November 2026

Fixed-term

Location

South West England

United Kingdom

Overview

The University of Bristol seeks a fixed-term Research Associate or Senior Research Associate to join the Organic Geochemistry Unit within the School of Earth Sciences. Working alongside Dr Caitlyn Witkowski, the appointee will research how photoautotrophic phytoplankton fractionate and biosynthesize carbon. The project involves designing chemostat experiments, extracting and analyzing lipids using advanced analytical equipment, and communicating findings through top-tier publications and conferences. Applicants should bring strong laboratory experience in organic geochemistry or related biological and earth sciences.

organic geochemistryphytoplanktonstable isotopeschemostatGC-MSbioreactorcarbon fractionationpaleoclimatology

What you'll do

Design and execute continuous culturing experiments using a chemostat bioreactor to study phytoplankton growth under controlled environmental conditions.
Extract and analyze phytoplankton lipid profiles utilizing analytical instrumentation including GC-FID, GC-MS, GC-C-IRMS, and HPLC-MS.
Examine the correlation between environmental parameters such as CO2, light, and pH with stable carbon isotopic fractionation in lipids.
Draft manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and deliver presentations at national and international scientific conferences.
Contribute to student supervision and engage in departmental outreach activities.
Collaborate with internal and external research partners to advance interdisciplinary project goals.

Requirements

Degree required: PhD in Chemistry, Organic Geochemistry, Earth Sciences, Geomicrobiology, Biology, Geography, or a related discipline

Language: English; strong written and verbal proficiency

Instruction: English

Publications: Evidence of peer-reviewed journal publications appropriate to career stage

Required skills

Proficiency in implementing wet chemistry and instrumental solutions to complex laboratory problems
Demonstrated experience in designing and executing laboratory experiments, particularly analyzing lipid content in phytoplankton
Hands-on experience with environmental isotopes
Track record of effective science communication via peer-reviewed journal publications
Experience presenting research findings at scientific conferences

Nice to have

Prior experience in research and undergraduate or graduate supervision at the postdoctoral level or equivalent industry levelDemonstrated background in leading independent project managementPrevious involvement in scientific outreach activitiesExperience liaising with external academic or industrial collaborators

Eligibility

Open to applicants from all backgrounds meeting the academic qualifications

Funding & terms

Type

Salaried

Amount

£39.9k–£50.3k/yr

Duration

17-19 months

Programme

University of Bristol

How to apply

Deadline: 2026-10-29 (Europe/London)

Submit an online application through the university job portal, ensuring you include a full academic CV and a concise one-page cover letter detailing how the post aligns with your past experience and what you will contribute.

Documents required