PDRA Aquatic Ecotoxicology (D25/26.LH)

Location:  SAMS, Oban

Contract Type: Fixed term - 24 months

Working Pattern:  Full Time - 37 hours per week – Monday to Friday

Salary Range:  Grade 5 £31,396.00 - £34,980.00 pa. Grade 6 £37,099.00 - £41,732.00 pa

Closing date: 7th April 2026

The Role

We are hiring a PDRA to work on a newly funded UKRI project. We will be looking at the various ways that Calanus copepods can transport pharmaceuticals and other contaminants through the food chain, eventually to the human diet. This PDRA role will be focused on ecotoxicology experiments; we will establish a culture of Calanus in the SAMS aquarium and run exposure experiments for a range of contaminants. Observations will be made on the effects of these contaminants on survival, behaviour, and molecular changes. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a highly interdisciplinary project with colleagues across the UK.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone with experimental aquatic research experience, ideally in a research aquarium setting. The role will also involve fieldwork on small research vessels. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the project, experience in working across disciplines would be an advantage.
The work will require exceptional laboratory skills as well as a high level of competence in data analysis and presentation, scientific writing, and the communication of key findings at project meetings and larger conferences.

There will be opportunities for teaching and student supervision at undergraduate and postgraduate level; experience in teaching and education is a benefit but not essential.

Employee Benefits

Our relatively small, caring community is an ideal environment for making friends, forming collaborations, and supporting each other to do the work that we really care about. Oban and surrounding areas provide a fantastic base to live and work, and we offer a wide range of employee benefits, support and inclusive culture, making SAMS a great place to work.

Our employees are the heart of our business. Recruiting and retaining the right people is the key to our success. Rewarding our employees is therefore an important component of our employment package and we have a wide range of benefits on offer to staff to support your work and lifestyle.

We are proud to provide a wide variety of benefits year-round, offering options to best support our staff, such as: flexible & hybrid working options, purchase of additional annual leave, shopping discounts, Cycle 2 Work scheme, purchases of technology through salary sacrifice, Payroll Giving, Pensions Plus, access to portals to support health and wellbeing, a sabbatical scheme, free car parking with access to electronic charging points as well as access to a number of training & development courses.

Additionally, SAMS encourages and recognises excellence among staff through various recognition and reward arrangements. We are striving to constantly develop and expand the benefits and offers for our colleagues.

Interested?

We would love to hear from you. If you have queries on the job and would like to talk these through before applying, please email these through, in the first instance, to HR@sams.ac.uk

Applications must include CV and Cover Letter and should be sent electronically to recruitment@sams.ac.uk quoting Job Ref. ‘D25/26.LH’ in the subject heading.

Closing date for application is 7th April 2026 - Interviews to be held on 27th April 2026.

Full details can be found here:

PDRA in Aquatic Ecotoxicology Job Description

PDRA in Aquatic Ecotoxicology - JD Accessible Format

Please find further information below on how we can help you apply:

We are a Disability Confident Employer. Where a candidate requires reasonable adjustments as part of the application process, we encourage you to let us know. Where applicants with a disability meet the essential criteria for the job, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your skills, talent and abilities at interview.

SAMS’ commitment to gender equality has been recognised, as our institute was presented with an Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) Bronze Award and is currently working towards Investors in Diversity accreditation.

SAMS follows Fair Work Practices.

SAMS Group is committed to being an equal and open organisation. Diversity and inclusion are important to us, and we strive to remove any barriers that may prevent people from applying to join us. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, and from all who share our values and can help us to broaden our knowledge and range of ideas.