The Allerton Research and Educational Trust is looking for a senior soil scientist to help manage their existing portfolio of soil science projects, collecting and analysing data and co-ordinating fieldwork operations.
The Allerton Research and Educational Trust was established in 1992 at the bequest of the late Lord and Lady Allerton. The Charities objectives are to research and demonstrate that productive farming and wildlife conservation can be reconciled. The research extends to the wider farmed environment and components of the agricultural system including flora, fauna, soil and water.
Job Purpose
We welcome applications from candidates with a PhD, or similar experience in soil science, agroecology or related disciplines. A track record of peer reviewed publications, and success in external grant capture is desirable, but not essential. Fieldwork and field trial management skills are essential. The successful candidate will help manage our existing portfolio of soil science projects, collecting and analysing data and co-ordinating fieldwork operations. They will also design, implement and raise external funding for new Agri-ecology projects to ensure continuity and expansion of research within the Allerton Project in regenerative farming, crop production and soil health. An understanding of, and a vision for arable and pastoral farming systems and the agricultural policy landscape is highly desirable.
Our current research portfolio includes regenerative agriculture, inclusion of livestock, grazing management, land management change, soil cultivations, soil biological health, nitrogen use efficiency, biostimulants, greenhouse gas emissions – particularly N2O, water infiltration, water run-off and water quality. We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate who can take on this wide breadth of research and build on it. We are particularly interested in candidates with prior experience in some of these areas, but on the job training is available, and we welcome a candidate with enthusiasm and willing to learn. This is a practical role, and will include involvement in fieldwork and data collection, alongside data analysis and presentation of results. Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.
To apply, please send cover letter, CV and references to Dr Jenny Bussell: jbussell@gwct.org.uk
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Our vision
The Allerton Research & Educational Trust (ARET) aka The Allerton Project is a nationally important research and demonstration farm that researches the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment, sharing results of our research through advisory and educational activities. Much of this is undertaken on our 320-hectare demonstration farm based in Leicestershire, with outreach activities also carried out on-line and elsewhere.
We identify management that delivers multiple benefits for our rural landscape. Our work covers natural capital accounting, Environmental Land Management and regenerative farming systems. From soil and water to woodland and farmland habitats that increase biodiversity, our aim is to develop farming and land management systems that are resilient to economic and environmental shocks. Our own research team collaborates with other research organisations and co-supervises numerous PhD and MSc projects.
Visitors to the Project include businesses, policy makers, non-government organisations, regulators, farmers, advisors, students and schools. We have several initiatives that involve the local community to help improve a shared understanding of agricultural and environmental issues. In essence, the Allerton Project is an award winning, pioneering blueprint for future rural landscapes. Arable cropping and livestock enterprises sit alongside woodland, wetland and other environmental habitats. The Project is noted for developing scientifically validated solutions to a range of agricultural and land management conflicts, including wildlife, game management, soil health, carbon accounting and water quality. We are leaders or partners in many public and privately funded initiatives with a number of international corporations as our clients.
The Allerton Project has a well-established environmentally sustainable training and visitor facility attracting over 2,000 delegates and visitors a year. The project delivers comprehensive training programme such as the BASIS Certificate in Sustainable Land Management as well as numerous bespoke packages.