About the job

Job summary

We are seeking a Post Doctoral Research Associate (FTA 18 months) to join Kew’s New Guinea Tropical Important Plant Areas project. You will develop a portfolio of work within a broad remit to aid conservation prioritisation and assess potential anthropogenic and climate change impacts upon plant diversity, using the TIPAs framework to identify key areas for the conservation of plant diversity in Indonesian New Guinea.

 

New Guinea has the most diverse island flora on the planet, making it key to the global conservation of plant species. Kew’s Tropical Important Plant Areas (TIPAs) have been used to prioritize landscapes for plant conservation in Africa and America; our New Guinea TIPAs project focuses on the two Indonesian provinces that form West Papua. Documenting plant megadiversity across West Papua is important for global efforts to protect tropical forest systems, their carbon stocks and the health and economic benefits that they provide. With mangroves, satellite islands, metal-rich soils, limestone, montane scrub and being isolated from the main body of the island - West Papua has a medley of ecological variation driving high plant diversity and endemism. 

 

Interviews are due to take place on 29th August at Kew Gardens. This role is primarily based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

Alongside your online application, please upload a copy of your research CV to support your application. This should include your publication and funding record, as well as any other relevant information to demonstrate your track record as a research scientist e.g. scientific honours and panel / committee memberships, PhD supervision etc. 

Job description

The role of Post Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) for the New Guinea Tropical Important Plant Areas (TIPAs) project is part of the Asia Team in the Accelerated Taxonomy Priority, based in the Herbarium at Kew. The Asia Team has a focus on exploring, describing and conserving the plants and habitats of eastern Malesia (from Wallacea to New Guinea). Our New Guinea TIPAs project aims to support biodiversity conservation in West Papua Province in Indonesian New Guinea by designating TIPAs.

Working alongside other partners in the project, they will deliver analysis to aid and inform conservation initiatives in the region. The job holder will develop a portfolio of work within a broad remit to aid conservation prioritisation and assess potential anthropogenic and climate change impacts upon plant diversity. The post will involve working with Kew staff, students and Indonesian counterparts in the West Papuan Provincial Government and University of Papua (UNIPA), Forestry Department.

Person specification

The PDRA will have the freedom to develop their own research interests in conjunction with the needs of our partners in West Papua. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a scientific discipline, with versatile skills in data manipulation. The ability to perform data analyses using a range of techniques, excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, and experience of independently managing a discrete area of a research project are essential. An interest in the Southeast Asian flora, particularly that of eastern Malesia is desirable; there will be opportunities to gain and develop skills in plant identification. Knowledge of IUCN red list criteria and an understanding of expert spatial prioritization designations (e.g. KBAs, IPAs) is preferred. The post holder will be encouraged to drive research using latest techniques, potentially covering distribution modelling, automated red listing, remote sensing and conservation prioritisation.

 

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please visit the provided web-link and submit your application.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.