Ecological Sciences Group

Research Agronomist

Salary circa £37,500 per annum

We are looking to recruit an innovative Research Agronomist to join the Ecological Sciences Group at The James Hutton Institute. The Institute is a world-leading research centre based in Scotland with a remit to deliver evidence-based solutions to the global challenges facing land and natural resource use. We have a strong research emphasis on connecting agriculture and the environment and in supporting innovation to develop sustainable agricultural practices.

Main Purpose of Job

We are looking for a self-motivated person who has the capacity to explore, develop and evaluate novel options for arable cropping and crop management to address the multifaceted issue of sustaining agricultural production under different drivers of change which include climate change, regulation, subsidies, policies and market. This research will be delivered as part of a portfolio of projects in the Institute’s Delivering Sustainable Production Systems Research Theme:http://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/themes/delivering-sustainable-production-systems.

In the first instance the successful applicant will contribute to the Centre for Sustainable Cropping which is a test-bed for sustainable management practices and new crop varieties within a European context: www.hutton.ac.uk/about/facilities/centre-sustainable-cropping. The post-holder will also have access to a diverse range of experimental trials and platforms across the Institute’s farms network.  The position offers an exceptional career opportunity for the post-holder to develop agronomic experimentation and practice in collaboration with colleagues across the Institute and researchers worldwide.

Main Duties of Post-holder

The successful candidate will be responsible for (1) conducting research that tests sustainable cropping practices (2) developing and obtaining funding for a collaborative research portfolio in agronomy, (3) advising on crop management and cropping practice to meet the goals of the Centre for Sustainable Cropping and other Hutton research platforms (4) publishing results in internationally recognized scientific journals and publications relevant for other audiences e.g. farming, industry and public press (5) presenting and communicating results from research to diverse audiences including scientific peers, agronomists, farmers and industry bodies.  

This post will be based primarily at the Institute’s site in Dundee with some travel to the Aberdeen and other sites for Group, Theme and Institute activities. The position will be a fixed term appointment for 3 years in the first instance.

For informal enquires, contact Tim Daniell (Theme leader for Delivering Sustainable Production Systems; Tim.Daniell<στο>hutton.ac.uk) or Helaina Black (Science Group Leader for Ecological Sciences;Helaina.Black<στο>hutton.ac.uk). To apply please submit a covering letter and CV (including the names and addresses of 3 referees, one of which must be your current or most recent employer) by e-mail tovacancies<στο>hutton.ac.uk or by post to HR Office Aberdeen, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH by 19th May 2015. Please quote reference number Hutton-17-15 in all correspondence. All individuals wishing to work within the UK must be entitled to do so before they can be employed.