Earth Observation Scientist 0012

• Location
• Plymouth
• Vacancy Type
• Fixed Term Appointment
• Application Deadline
• Friday, December 5, 2025
• Salary
• £36963
• Job Eligible for Skilled Worker Visa
• For "New Entrants" only
• Job Summary

• Renowned internationally for its research excellence supporting a sustainable ocean, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has an exciting opportunity for a 1-year scientist position.

  It is a crucial time for the ocean with key international drivers being the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the “double decade” of action – The Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

  We are looking for an Earth Observation scientist (1-year maternity cover) to work on topics related to phytoplankton primary production, phytoplankton dynamics and biodiversity in our Marine Processes and Observations (MPO) group. This will involve working together with other MPO team members and along partner organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out research on a number of ongoing projects, including

  PHYTO-CCI,TIMEandCAMP. The work will include development of ocean colour algorithms, data production and analyses to address long-term trends in phytoplankton primary production and diversity as well as tipping points in marine ecosystems. There is a possibility of extending the job by an additional year, subject to performance and project requirements.
• Key Deliverables

• Improve remote sensing algorithms for mapping various biologically-relevant carbon pools and fluxes in the upper ocean, including primary production and phytoplankton carbon and diversity.

  Study marine ecosystem tipping points, specifically those in phytoplankton phenology and primary production, using remote sensing observations.

• Skills Specification
• • PhD in oceanography or allied fields (such as physics, mathematics, biology, statistics), or with equivalent experience.
  • Background in satellite data processing, especially long-term datasets or similar.
  • Strong programming skills are required to produce and analyse satellite data.
  • Domain knowledge of phytoplankton ecology, phytoplankton diversity, primary production and/or biological carbon pump.
  • Candidates who are versatile, dynamic, self-motivated, willing and eager to learn new science.
  • Projects are international, and so good inter-personal skills, ability to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, and willingness to travel to meetings would be desirable.
• Applicant Information

• You can find out more about working at PML

  and view our company benefitshere.here

  For more information about living and working in Plymouth please click

  .here

  If you require a visa to work in the UK please click

  for more information.here

  Please note that this position is a Hybrid role that will require at least 50% of the jobholder’s time to be spent in our Lab. We are not able to support fully remote working for this role.

  If you have any questions about this position, please email

  careers@pml.ac.uk.

  PML is a Disability Confident employer, and we have recently attained the Investors in Diversity Silver accreditation. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive culture, where all can succeed based on merit, and will provide any reasonable adjustments required to enable this. To support staff from all backgrounds, we offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and staff engagement forums.