About the job

Job summary

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science research?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crises? Forest Research (FR) is a leading UK scientific research organisation that provides impactful scientific data, evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners. Internationally recognised, we want to work with people who have the skills and passion to deliver impactful science which informs practical solutions across the sector.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways.  Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our natural environment.  With locations across the UK, you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer who promotes agile working to help you manage your work life balance. If you want to be a part of a growing organisation that makes a difference, find out more at Homepage - Forest Research

Forest Protection is one of two science centres at Forest Research (FR) and applies a wide range of expertise to important issues concerning the health, functioning and value of Britain's trees, woods and forests.  Forest Protection is formed of Physical Environmental Sciences in addition to 3 Tree Health groups (Entomology, Pathology and Diagnostic Advisory) and Forest Genetics. We in the Physical Environment Science group undertake work to understand the complex interactions between forests and forest management practices and their physical and historic environment. The cross-disciplinary nature of our research creates close ties with other science groups, particularly entomology.

Soil is an essential and irreplaceable natural resource, functioning as an integral link in the nutrient cycling of forest ecosystems. The Soil Sustainability Research Team undertakes research to ensure that forest practices do not compromise soil physical, chemical, and biological sustainability. Soil ecology is a rapidly expanding aspect of soil health policy and research, and the Soil Sustainability Research Team are currently looking to appoint a Scientist – Machine Learning to support the development of our work in this important area of soil research.

Job description

The post-holder will help the Soil Sustainability Research Team and the Entomology Team in Tree Health to develop a novel methodology for biodiversity identification based on deep machine learning approaches, primarily contributing to research projects related to forest soil invertebrate ecology and forest pests. This is a systematics position that will require working closely together with existing FR taxonomy experts to produce data that will help train an algorithm to identify species (mesofauna – mites and springtails - and macrofauna – bark beetles) collected by routine sampling. The post holder would be encouraged to further develop the application of artificial intelligence technology for biodiversity sampling and monitoring, and its potential combination with other approaches, e.g., eDNA. Autonomy, self-organisation, and excellent written and verbal communication skills would be essential for the maintenance of this cross-disciplinary collaboration and the production of reports and other update notes.  

Key Work Areas:

1. Explore the literature to identify the state of knowledge of UK’s deep machine learning methods for biodiversity identification and monitoring.
2. Equipment set up, calibration, troubleshooting and imagine preparation for object detection.
3. Creation of a training dataset for object detection using existing pre-identified macro and mesofauna samples, with the assistance of FR colleagues.
4. Development of a suitable deep machine learning model for biodiversity identification by testing equipment settings, specimen detection and model performance parameters.
5. Communicate and disseminate results to colleagues and stakeholders in various formats, including developing standard operating procedures to help others use the equipment and model.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• A bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject area (Machine Learning, Data Science, Advanced Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electronic and Electrical Engineering etc.).
• Experience of working with computer vision workflows for digitisation, counting and identification (for example object detection, segmentation and/or captioning).
• Knowledge and experience of working with programming languages, e.g., C++/Python.
• Evidence of report writing skills aimed at a wide range of audiences.

Desirable Criteria:

• Familiarity with forests and other land uses in the UK and associated invertebrates.
• Experience with sample processing and taxonomic identification.
• Working understanding of Deep Learning frameworks such as PyToch, Tensorflow.
• Experience of working with image composite and stitching related software, e.g., Open CV.
• Experience of using object detection algorithms, e.g., Detectron 2, object detection models and frameworks, e.g., Faster R-CNN, SAHI.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,870, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £9,684 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift Date:            19th February 2024
Interview Date:   26th/27th February 2024

If a large volume of applications is received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Changing and Improving.  However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all Behaviours at the interview stage.  

This is a Fixed Term Appointment until 30 April 2025 with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.