Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number: /
Job Description
School/Department: / Ocean and Earth Science
Post Title: / Research Fellow: Geochemistry and Oxidation of Sea Floor Massive Sulphides
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
4
ERE & Clinical Posts: Please indicate the category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Teaching & Research / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
X
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Prof Stephen Roberts (ERE 7)
Posts Responsible for (and Level): / Some responsibility for supervision of students (UG, PGT and PGR)
Job Purpose:
Undertake laboratory research to quantify the rates of oxidation of a range of sulphide minerals and measure the concentrations of the associated heavy and trace metal released.
The project will include an initial global literature review/database of existing sea floor sulphides and their major and minor element characteristics.
This position forms part of the Ocean and Earth Science contribution to the EU FP7 MIDAS project (Managing Impacts of Deep-seAreSource exploitation).
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities
  • To collate existing compositional data for major and trace elements and rare earth elements (REEs) for Sea Floor Sulphides from published literature.
  • To review existing data and experiments which have determined sulphide oxidation rates
  • Given available data , to model likely pollution scenarios following oxidation of sulphide minerals
  • To design experiments in order to calculate oxidation rates and trace metal release for sea floor sulphides.
  • To complete experiments of various sulphide phases, grain size, textures
  • To manipulate and interpret data from sulphide oxidation experiments.
  • To produce progress reports and deliverables to deadlines as agreed with the European Commission and to contribute to the deliverables of other partners as necessary
  • To take a leading role in the preparation of publication materials for leading international peer-reviewed journals and for preparing and presenting at international meetings and conferences.
  • To carry out administrative tasks associated with the specified research funding, for example risk assessment of research activities and organisation of documentation
/ % Time
10
10
10
10
25
10
10
10
5
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)
This project is being managed by Prof Stephen Roberts as part of MIDAS work package (WP1) in collaboration with Dr Chris Hauton who is the Ecotoxicology work package leader (WP3) for the MIDAS project. The PDRF will liaise with Prof Roberts, Prof M. Palmer Dr R. James and Dr C. Hauton (OES. Soton) on a regular basis to agree project objectives and targets and will take a lead responsibility for the production of milestones and deliverables. The PDRF will be expected to collaborate with other researchers in the School geochemistry laboratories as well as members of the MIDAS Consortium.
The post holder will fully participate in research and or training events within the project. Travel to project meetings and AGMs (held across Europe) will be required.
Special Requirements:N/A
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
PhD in Geology, Geochemistry, Analytical Chemistry
Previous experience of research into sulphide mineral analyses or experience of flow through hydrothermal experimentation.
Publication record / √
√ / √ / CV
Application & interview
Application & interview
Planning and Organising:
Needs to be able to plan own research/method strategy / √ / Interview
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Ability to problem solve and ‘trouble shoot’ within a laboratory context / √ / Application
Management and Teamwork:
Able to manage project resources and time / √ / Interview
Communicating and Influencing:
Interpersonal skills (ability to communicate and get on withpeople)
Experience in presenting scientific work at conferences. / √
√ / Interview
Application
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Special Requirements:
Ability to travel

Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification

Please tick one of the following statements:

This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if ticked, no further information needs to be supplied)
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU / √

Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work / √
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace) / √
Potential for exposure to body fluids ## / N/A
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ##
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify ………Heavy metals and other toxicants ## / √
Frequent hand washing / √
Ionising radiation.
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling ## / N/A
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ## / √
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ##
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ## / √
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling. / √
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping / √
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing / N/A
Repetitive Lifting / N/A
Standing for prolonged periods / N/A
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders / N/A
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) / √
Gross motor grips / N/A
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height / N/A
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height / N/A
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height / N/A
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public / √
Lone working / √
Shift work/night work/on call duties ## / √

O – Occasionally (up to 1/3 of time); F – Frequently (up to 2/3 of time); C – Constantly (more than 2/3 of time) ## denotes to HR the need for a full PEHQ to be sent to all applicants for this position.

FOR SCHOOL/SERVICE USE ONLY / ResourceLink Post Number
Which post does this job report to / HN00003560
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No / X
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
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Post 6
Post 7
Post 8
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