Research Technician at University of Bristol

The role

The aim of this research project is to quantify the impact of a pesticide ban on a pollinator community and test for cascading impacts on the wider food web. The ban is being implemented on the island of Guernsey, and we will use three neighbouring islands as controls.  There are three scientific objectives to our project:

1. we will quantify the impact of the pesticide ban on populations of common pollinators;
2. we will quantify the impact of the ban on pollinator community structure;
3. we will test for cascading positive benefits of the ban on the wider community associated with pollinators, specifically their specialist parasitoids and generalist bat predators. 

We have already collected four years of data prior to the ban and this project will analyse these samples and collect a further four years of data.

What will you be doing?

The technician will be responsible for assisting the project’s postdoctoral researcher in the following tasks:

• Process samples of insects collected in Malaise traps – we have 16 Malaise traps based on the four islands which collect insects every July. Easily identifiable pollinator species need to be counted, and the remainder of the sample will be sorted to order or family in preparation for further identification.
• We have collected samples for genetic analysis from the buff tailed bumblebee from each island (c. 500 bees per island, per year). These samples need preparing for analysis by the Bristol Genomics Facility (principally PCR preparation).
• Most of our data collection is done by highly skilled volunteers based on each of the four study islands but there may be a small amount of field work that needs completing by the technician.
• The position involves being willing to help with other ecological research projects and outreach projects, when time permits.

You should apply if

Essential knowledge & skills

• Relevant qualifications at GCSE, or NVQ level 2/3, or equivalent level, plus relevant work experience; or significant relevant work experience. 
• Experience in insect identification to at least the order level.
• Excellent organisational skills are needed to keep track of 1000’s of specimens from multiple field sites and sampling years.
• Good communication skills, both written and oral.
• Excellent team working skills.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to organise your own workload.
• Be willing to learn new skills.
• You will need to be based in Bristol.

Desirable knowledge & skills

• A degree in a biological subject or equivalent qualification.
• Expertise in at least one of the main pollinator groups.
• Experience in PCR.
• A full clean UK Driving Licence.

Additional information

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Jane Memmott, Jane.Memmott@bristol.ac.uk.

Potential date for interviews is Monday 26th February 2024.

Our strategy and mission