Research Fellow in Biogeochemistry

Overview

The University of Birmingham invites applications for a Research Fellow in Biogeochemistry within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, specifically in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. This position is part of the Tree Immunisation Platform for Urgent Landscape-Scale Adaptation project, funded by ARIA, which investigates whether early-life immune engineering can accelerate the adaptive capacity of long-lived trees. The fellow will assess how nutrient variation and drought influence immunised and non-immunised oak seedlings grown in the Advanced Wolfson Glasshouses under treatments involving nutrient regimes, soil water stress, and elevated carbon dioxide.

What you get

The position offers a salary of 36,636 British Pounds per annum on a full-time, fixed-term contract basis. The work arrangement is on-site.

Requirements

Applicants must hold a completed PhD degree in Environmental Science, Soil Science, Plant Sciences, Biogeochemistry, Biology, Ecology, or related disciplines. Candidates must be available to start full-time employment from January or February 2027. Essential qualifications include experience in plant-soil-air interaction studies combining plant ecology, atmospheric processes, and soil science, alongside experience in stable isotope tracing. Candidates must also provide evidence of peer-reviewed publications commensurate with their career stage and demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary project team.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the designated applicant portal and must include a curriculum vitae, a cover letter of a maximum of two pages outlining the applicant vision for the project and how they meet the requirements, links to scientific publications with DOIs if available, and the contact details for at least two academic or professional referees. Referees should be able to provide references by November 2026. Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof. Sami Ullah.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 8 November 2026. The successful candidate is expected to start in January or February 2027.