Marine Biologist - Rothera

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for an exceptional Marine Biologist to join our 100 strong team based in Antarctica.  BAS delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe!

Our skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs.  British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org

Working at BAS is rewarding.  The UK’s polar research effort is critically important for understanding environmental issues that affect everyone.  This is an opportunity to do what may seem like an ordinary job in the most extraordinary place on Earth.

You’ll be joining our Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation Team (BEA), a group whose interests span marine and terrestrial polar biology, both past and present. Our ambition is to understand how past, present and future environmental change has and will affect polar biodiversity both on land and in the ocean, and how life adapts to extreme polar conditions. 

Our research outcomes will provide deep insight into the impact of environmental change on the natural world, make a strong contribution to future conservation measures, and generate new and innovative areas of research that have potential societal benefits.

You’ll help us to deliver information on our goal to quantify changes in Antarctic rocky shore marine assemblages and understand the impacts of the changing Antarctic environment. As somewhere that is experiencing large and unpredictable changes in the duration of winter sea ice, Marguerite Bay is one of the best places to understand how these changes propagate through to changes in benthic marine communities.

Within the role, there will be an opportunity to develop your scientific planning, field work, analysis and writing skills within the team. The BEA team has an extensive network of collaborators, offering the opportunity to get involved in a range of additional research projects, from collecting animals to return to the UK, to running aquarium experiments and advising visiting scientists. This will provide the right candidate with the opportunity to develop new scientific and logistic skills. 

You’ll be joining a world-leading interdisciplinary research organisation, that is committed to recruiting talented people like you giving you the support, you need to thrive at BAS.  Antarctica is one of the most exhilarating and spectacular workplaces you could imagine. 

Your main responsibilities will include:

·         Through year-round SCUBA diving you will play a leading role in quantifying the benthic marine assemblage living on steep rocky shores around Rothera Research Station.

·         Working within the BEA Team to facilitate a wide breadth of science

·         Being an active member of the community at Rothera Research Station, both in the summer and winter

·         Writing your research up as peer reviewed publications

The BEA Team are working on a wide range of current projects, which include: protein folding in the cold, monitoring climate change in action, changing biodiversity, reproduction in a changing world, terrestrial assemblages (invertebrates and soil fungi) in a changing world, Deep-Sea hydrothermal vents and iceberg impact studies. 

For the role of Marine Biologist we are looking for somebody who:

·         Can plan and complete underwater surveys of rocky shore assemblages.

·         Will analyse this data to interpret changes in these assemblages through time.

·         Can work within a diverse team of scientists, maintaining communication both in person and remotely.

·         Will become a valuable member of team on station and in Cambridge, enthusiastically fulfilling their share of team and base duties alongside their science

If we’ve just described you, we’d love to hear from you.  Apply now at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.

What we offer:

As a valued employee, you’ll be eligible for benefits including an end of contract payment upon completion of a successful assignment in Antarctica, annual leave, a defined benefit pension scheme with NEST (National Employment Savings Trust) and access to 24 hours/365 days per year employee assistance programme.    In addition, you will be provided with pre-deployment training and accommodation costs.  All food, accommodation and polar clothing during Antarctic deployment will also be provided. 

What experiences can we offer you?

At BAS we believe everyone plays a vital role, is unique and valued, therefore, we embrace diversity as well as equality of opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming working environment where everyone’s unique perspectives are valued.

Different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That’s the power of every individual.  Our cultural values are built on mutual respect, inclusion, commitment and excellence.

If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world class and amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you.