Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Mining Ecology)
| Posting date: | 26 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £43,482 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 26 October 2025 |
| Location: | Exeter, Devon |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Exeter |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | Q01896 |
Summary
Environment, Science and Economy Faculty
This full-time post is available from April 2026 on a fixed term basis until July 2028
The post
The Faculty wishes to recruit an Innovation Fellow in Mining Ecology to participate in the Critical Minerals Challenge Centre –Accelerating the Green Economy. The UKRI-funded post is available from 1 April 2026 to 31 July 2028. The successful applicant will carry out applied and fundamental ecological research relating to the biodiversity associated with a variety of exploration and mining sites and technologies, working collaboratively with researchers from a wide range of other disciplines, industry and regional government.
The post will include developing further projects with industry partners, publishing primary research findings via collaborative peer-reviewed outputs; translating research findings into educational materials and delivering executive and public education on nature-positive mining and mineral extraction
About you
We are looking for an Innovation Fellow with interest and experience in the ecology and biodiversity of human-impacted ecosystems and wish to develop primary research and knowledge using new technologies for the monitoring of biodiversity. The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will ideally be a nationally recognised authority in a related subject area and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you
Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunningCornwall
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.
Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.
With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.
Further information
For further information please contact Dave Hodgson, d.j.hodgson@exeter.ac.uk
This full-time post is available from April 2026 on a fixed term basis until July 2028
The post
The Faculty wishes to recruit an Innovation Fellow in Mining Ecology to participate in the Critical Minerals Challenge Centre –Accelerating the Green Economy. The UKRI-funded post is available from 1 April 2026 to 31 July 2028. The successful applicant will carry out applied and fundamental ecological research relating to the biodiversity associated with a variety of exploration and mining sites and technologies, working collaboratively with researchers from a wide range of other disciplines, industry and regional government.
The post will include developing further projects with industry partners, publishing primary research findings via collaborative peer-reviewed outputs; translating research findings into educational materials and delivering executive and public education on nature-positive mining and mineral extraction
About you
We are looking for an Innovation Fellow with interest and experience in the ecology and biodiversity of human-impacted ecosystems and wish to develop primary research and knowledge using new technologies for the monitoring of biodiversity. The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.
Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will ideally be a nationally recognised authority in a related subject area and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you
Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunningCornwall
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.
Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.
With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.
Further information
For further information please contact Dave Hodgson, d.j.hodgson@exeter.ac.uk
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.