Research Assistant​/Associate

Job Purpose

You will contribute to / make a leading contribution to the project Large-scale Import Forecasting for National Biosecurity Risk Management working with Prof Jethro Browell and the UK Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The successful candidate will join a team developing and implement forecasting methodologies for large-scale time series data (many thousands of time series) and devise analytics to provide decision-support.

Applications of this work include resource allocation at ports, targeted inspections of shipments, and hind casting to understand the impact of policy interventions on imports and bio-security risk. This project aims to deliver R software that they can incorporated into DEFRA processes and academic outputs to disseminate methodological innovations.

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

The start date for this post is negotiable but expected to be 1st July 2026 and is funded until 31 March 2027.

• 1. Plan and conduct assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.
• 2. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
• 3. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow/School/Research Group, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed publications, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.
• 4. Contribute to the presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.
• 5. Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.
• 6. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/ group/ meetings/ seminars/ workshops across the research Group/School/College/University and wider community.
• 7. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.
• 8. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.
• 9. Carry out modest Teaching activities (e.g. demonstrating etc) and associated admin as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with Principal Investigator.
• 10. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.
• 11. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.
• 12. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/Director of Research Institute.
• 13. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University Strategy.
• 14. For appointment at grade 7:
  Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership and responsibility, particularly in relation to planning, funding, collaborating and publishing research, and mentoring colleagues.
• 15. Establish and sustain a track record of independent and joint published research to establish and maintain your expert reputation in the subject area.
• 16. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

• A1 SCQF Level 10 (Honours degree) in a relevant subject or a cognate discipline, or equivalent.
• A2 Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of statistical modelling.
• A3 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the wider subject area or subject specialism.