UKCEH is looking for a passionate Research Associate Spatial Data Scientist to join our 600-strong team, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:

• 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years

• 10% employer pension contribution

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

• 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare Officers

• Flexible working opportunities

And much more...

You’ll be joining our Spatial Ecology Research team, within our acclaimed Biodiversity Science Area . You’ll be assisting the team to apply advanced spatial data analysis and visualisation technique s in combination with modelling to support the sustainable management of natural capital and the associated ecosystem goods and services required by society.

A key part of this role will be to support UKCEH’s research into sustainable land use, including sustainable agriculture and Net Zero. You’ll use GIS and statistical analyses to answer key research questions by integrating, analysing and visualising spatial datasets. You’ll also be involved in undertaking natural capital assessments for various UK stakeholders, including quantifying national capital and running ecosystem service models.

In this role you’ll benefit from a structured 3-year training programme with 15% of your time dedicated to your personal development and upskilling .

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Develop efficient GIS workflows for integrating and analysing spatial datasets;

• Undertake statistical analysis to understand the effect land use and landscape structure on environmental variables;

• Create effective maps and visualisations to communicate results;

• Run ecosystem service modelling tools

• Work effectively with project teams that include internal and external collaborators;

• Present findings at scientific meetings and conferences.

Current projects the team are working on include AgZero +, an ambitious five-year research program supporting the UK’s transition towards domestic food production that is sustainable, carbon-neutral and has a positive effect on nature .

For the role of Research Associate Spatial Data Scientist , we’re looking for somebody who has :

• A degree in a subject relevant to spatial ecology ( e.g. biology, ecology, environmental science)

• Relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent work experience in environmental science or spatial ecology

• Good knowledge of issues and challenges around sustainable land use in the UK

• Experience of using GIS tools to handle , visualise and an alyse a range of spatial environmental datasets including EO data

• Experience of creating efficient spatial analysis workflows to answer research questions

• The ability to design and execute statistical analysis via script ing ( e.g. R)

• The ability to create effective maps and other visualisations of research data and outputs

• UK driving license to travel to field sites/meetings

If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet. Apply now!