Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to the Remnants and Revenants project working with Profs Anna Wilson (Glasgow) and Bhavani Narayanaswamy (SAMS). This Royal Society Apex project addresses the questions:

(1) How can development of socioenvironmental waste/ocean literacies facilitate localised solutions to marine litter?

(2) How can place-based studies of marine litter inform deep re-conceptualizations of socioenvironmental literacies? Marine litter is a global problem with as yet no solution, despite being well-known for decades. Both the litter and its impacts are unequally distributed, however, so this is a global problem that is also very local. In Scotland, the problem is worst along the west and island coasts, as winds and ocean currents bring litter from as far away as America, and local geography creates traps and litter sinks where rubbish accumulates over time. The nature of marine litter is also highly geographically variable, depending on local sources including land-and marine-based activities and legacy sources such as lost shipping containers and historic landfill. The Remnants and Revenants project involves intersecting activities including field observations, lab-based and computational model development, stakeholder engagement and creative, conceptual development.

The successful candidate(s) will join the Remnants and Revenants project team to carry out field-based research that aims to: (i) produce a detailed understanding of the movement of marine litter in two coastal locations in the west of Scotland; (ii) develop novel methods for estimating the origin and age of beached marine litter; and (iii) work on both conceptual and practical development of the idea of socioenvironmental literacies and literatures. You will plan and conduct fieldwork, contribute to analysis and help manage and direct this exciting, interdisciplinary project, including identifying and liaising with stakeholders.

We welcome shared and flexible work to ensure effective interdisciplinary working.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.        Take a leading role in planning and conducting of field-based observations of the deposition and movement of beached marine litter in coastal locations in Scotland.

2.        Document research, maintaining records and databases and co-drafting progress reports.

3.        Research the possible origins and journeys of selected beached marine litter items.

4.        Support research into the development of novel ageing methods.

5.        Identify stakeholders in both places of deposition and places of origin.

6.        Contribute to the development of the concept of animate socioenvironmental literacies.

7.        Present work and results at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research and/or impact profile.

8.        Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues and the wider community (e.g. community, local authority or industry partners).

9.        Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including budgets/expenditure.

10.    Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

11.    Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

12.    Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager and the Head of School.

13.    Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with University strategy.

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment, or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience, such as extended experience working in third sector organisations involved in environmental work

A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions relating to marine litter and marine litter research in Scotland and globally.

A3  Well-developed working knowledge and implementation of methods for monitoring, documenting and analysing beached marine litter.

Desirable

B1 Knowledge and understanding of (adult) literacies research and development.

Skills

Essential

C1 Effective organisation skills to manage time, prioritise and deliver appropriate research, teaching and administrative responsibilities.

Experience

Essential

E1 Ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature and to be effective both orally and/or in writing at a level appropriate to the activity.

E2 Planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.

E3 Developing track record of research outputs and/or impact and engagement activities.

E4 Contributions to identifying and pursuing project funding.

E5 Proven commitment to collegiality, especially in co-working to progress projects.

E6 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

Desirable:

F1 Experience of participating in activities that translate observations and research into impact to benefit local communities and wider society.

F2 Experience of contributing to the design and delivery of community engagement or learning resources.

F2 Demonstrated interest in fiction, creative writing, local folk literature and/or ghost stories.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Anna Wilson, Anna.Wilson.2@glasgow.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time and fixed term for up to 12 months

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date : 6 October 2025 @23:45