Research & Innovation Associate in Oyster Habitat Creation​/Lost Fishing Gear

The Orkney ‘demonstrator’ project is part of the Horizon funded programme Isla Bonita:
Supporting Managing Authorities to Restore the Oceans and Waters on Islands. In line with the European Ocean Pact, Isla Bonita has the overall aim to make the ocean, and waters become islandcommunities’ bestally. It will do this by supporting island managing Authorities to drive systemic transitions including relevantclimate resilience. Island managing Authorities, will co-developa range ofdemonstration projects, includinga range of Nature Based Solutions (NBS),into a portfolio with broad applicability.

• Part 1: European oysters once formed significant biogenic reefs, delivering important ecosystem services to coastal communities such as habitat provision, water filtration, carbon storage and coastal protection. These important reefs are now collapsed (using IUCN criteria) mostly due to overfishing in the 1800’s. The Orkney Demonstrator will restore oyster reefs using at least three different reef types in 10 x 10m patches whilst evaluating and optimising the habitat creation.
  
  Shell waste will be repurposed to create the oyster patch reefs and the oyster survival and biodiversity benefits will demonstrate the most cost-effective enhanced design. A plan for scaling-up locally and nationally will be produced.
• Part 2: When lost, creels made from non-biodegradable materials remain intact for decades and continue to capture marine animals (ghost fishing) and contribute to marine plastic pollution. This combined with other plastics is a growing problem for Orkney. The technology to improve Abandoned Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) retrieval from the seabed will be demonstrated and optimised working with local fishers to identify areas with high losses of creels.
  
  Litter retrieval innovations will include using marine drones fitted with appropriate tools to allow gear to be subsequently hauled onboard retrieving vessels. Recovered creels will be repaired as necessary and re-used for further fishing.

ICIT is the Orkney campus of Heriot-Watt University,locatedin Stromness.

It wasestablishedin 1989,and isan internationally recognized hub for research,consultancyandpostgraduate teaching.

The campus staff specialise in marine science, renewable energy, and the sustainable blueeconomy and are situated in the refurbished Robert Rendall Building (the former Stromness Primary School).ICITis part of the broader Research & Innovation Campus.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience of work at sea, especially with fishers
• Experience of data handling using databases, spreadsheets, GIS and statistical packages
• Ability to work well as part of an interdisciplinary team and to show initiative
• Reasonable fitness level –there will be a need to move equipment or work long hours or at sea in response to tidal cycles that are physically demanding
• Willingness to undertake fieldwork and to organize near-shore boat work and subcontractors
• Meticulous approach to scientific work
• Willingness to spend time working away from home
• A full UK driving licence or equivalent qualification that would enable driving on UK roads and therefore access to field and laboratory locations
• A strong academic record with practical field-based research experience and/or a PhD in Marine Sciences
• Experience of scientific writingandfluent in English
• A track record of generating outputs from scientific information and research
• Willingness to live and work in Orkney

• Appropriate level of diving qualification for compliance with the UK Diving at Work Regulations (CMAS 3*; Dive Master, Dive Leader etc)
• Experience of husbandry, biosecurity, aquarium management for aquatic invertebrates
• Experience of working with aquatic invertebrates, especially molluscs and crustaceans
• An enthusiasm for the marine environment and conservation
• Experience of R
• Experience of marine monitoring

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Applications can be submitted up to
23:55 (UK time)on Monday 10th of August 2026.