Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

About the role

As a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Peatland Fire, Palaeoecology and Ecological Resilience you will contribute to the Peat Fi Res  project, investigating how UK peatlands have responded to fire, climate and land-use change over the last 5,000 years. The role will focus primarily on palaeoecological research, including peatland fieldwork, peat-core analysis and multiproxy reconstruction of past fire and ecosystem responses, alongside FTIR spectroscopy and data integration.

You will work closely with Dr Jessie Woodbridge (PI, University of Plymouth), to whom they will report, and collaborate with Prof Ralph Fyfe, Dr Tim Daley and Dr Michela Mariani, alongside the wider interdisciplinary research team and external stakeholders.

• Conduct palaeoecological fieldwork and laboratory analysis of peat cores, including charcoal, pollen, plant macrofossils and testate amoebae.
• Develop and apply FTIR spectroscopy to characterise charcoal and reconstruct the nature and intensity of past fire events.
• Integrate multiproxy datasets to investigate peatland responses to fire, climate and land-use change.
• Contribute to data analysis, modelling and project outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Work collaboratively across the interdisciplinary project team, contributing to stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange.

For more information on School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences please visit our dedicated webpage at

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Jessie Woodbridge: by email at

• A PhD in palaeoecology, environmental science, geography, ecology or a related discipline.
• Experience in palaeoecological research, including analysis and interpretation of past environmental datasets.
• Relevant laboratory/analytical experience, ideally charcoal, pollen, plant macrofossils or FTIR.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with experience analysing environmental or palaeoecological datasets.
• Collaborative and adaptable approach, with the ability to work across disciplines.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

Work alongside academics in complementary fields: palaeoecological data synthesis and resilience to fire (Dr Jessie Woodbridge), geospatial analysis and archaeology (Prof Ralph Fyfe), palaeo-fire, FTIR and landscape modelling (Dr Michela Mariani), and climate science, carbon and peatlands (Dr Tim Daley). Be part of an interdisciplinary project combining palaeoecology, archaeology, analytical chemistry, Earth Observation and ecological modelling. Develop expertise in new and emerging methods, including FTIR approaches being developed specifically to characterise past UK peatland fire.

The University of Plymouth is an excellent place to undertake this research, with its strong expertise in environmental change and role in the Global Peatlands Initiative, providing an outstanding oppurtunity for building a research career.

The School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our two strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.

We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:

• Generous annual leave
  : 35 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed .

The University of Plymouth is building an inclusive and equitable university where everyone feels represented, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is guided by the Inclusive Institutions Framework, a strategic and externally validated approach that embeds these principles across the entire institution. To find out more please visit our