Data Analyst/Modeller x2

This role is based in the Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY with blended working which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from the workplace. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research (FR) is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

The post is based in the Silviculture and Timber Properties Science Group of Forest Research. The main aim of the team is to improve the scientific understanding of silvicultural practice with the objective of increasing the resilience of forests to climate change and biotic threats. Our work includes a diverse range of research including silvicultural systems; emerging species/species diversification for climate change adaptation; pesticides and vegetation management; long term experiments and much more. The team has a strong track record of producing respected practical guidance on the management of forests and supporting this with evidence published in peer-reviewed scientific papers, collaborating widely with both other science groups in Forest Research, and other research institutes and universities.

This post can be partly carried out from home, however regular attendance at our Northern Research Station in Midlothian, Scotland will be required to attend meetings and process samples in the lab. Willingness to conduct fieldwork across the UK is essential.

Forest managers broadly have two tools at their disposal to increase forest resilience and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate: species diversification and modifying stand structure using silviculture. We are seeking up to two data analysts to help drive forward exceptional science across three major new interdisciplinary research projects, working at the interface of dendrochronology, remote sensing, silviculture, applied forest ecology and climate change science. The successful candidate(s) are not expected to have experience in all of these disciplines, but an interest and experience in either forestry, ecology and/or climate change research is essential. The main purpose of these roles is to:

• Help plan and conduct exciting fieldwork campaigns at multiple sites across the UK to collect dendrochronological (tree-ring) samples and remote sensing datasets from forests that vary in structural complexity, species composition etc.
• Process these samples in the lab and then construct and quality assure datasets on tree growth and forest structure.
• Help analyse these new data alongside existing datasets on tree growth and survival from a latitudinal gradient of species and provenance experiments from across Europe.
• Contribute to the production of peer-reviewed scientific papers and communicate results using a range of media. In doing so, these roles will contribute to understanding how both species, structural and genetic diversity might help adapt UK forests to climate change.

As our climate warms, the duration, frequency, and intensity of drought and other extreme climate events is predicted to increase across the world. While species diversification has been the focus of most research to date, relationships between forest structure and drought resilience have received remarkably little attention, despite a rich and diverse literature linking forest structure with ecosystem function. This interdisciplinary project will combine dendrochronology with remote sensing to understand how we can modify forest structure to increase forest resilience.

In 2012, Forest Research established a new generation of experimental as part of the European REINFFORCE network, a network of 38 sites across a latitudinal gradient from Portugal to Scotland to compare the growth and survival of 38 species. This project will use data from across this European network in conjunction with climate matching tools to understand how different species might adapt UK forests to climate change.

UK forest management has traditionally applied ‘local is best’, however new climate-smart approaches are required to predict tree genotype performance, and guide climate-resilient provenance selection. In this project we are collaborating with Kew to combine dendrochronology, process-based tree modelling and genomic analysis of local adaptation to help select the right tree in the right place under climate change.

• Organise and conduct fieldwork campaigns across England.
• Process dendrochronological (tree-ring) samples in the lab.
• Build, quality assure and analyse large datasets on forest growth, survival and resilience under historic and future climate change scenarios.
• Summarise and contribute to the publication of results.

• An environmental science degree or similar experience.
• Previous experience of handling, analysing and modelling datasets using R, preferably in the context of forest ecosystems.
• Experience and interest in forestry OR ecology OR climate change research.
• Experience of effectively planning and managing research, and timely delivery of outputs.
• Proven ability to produce quality written work such as peer-reviewed scientific papers, or equivalent.
• Willingness to travel and conduct fieldwork across the UK involving overnight stays.

• Experience with handling, processing and quality controlling dendrochronological samples/datasets.
• Experience designing and conducting fieldwork campaigns.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace.
• Communicating and Influencing.
• Working Together.

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Previous experience of handling/analysing large datasets using R.

• Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all.
• Access to world-class laboratory facilities, as well as state-of-the-art buildings within forest or science park settings.

• Flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities.
• A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays.

• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7.
• We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays.
• Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time.

• A highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% your salary.
• An employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops.
• Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans.
• Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports.
• With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.

Any move to Forest Research from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK, you will be asked to supply:

• A CV - setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
• A Personal Statement – (limited to 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification.

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift will take place on 16/17th April 2025.

Interviews are planned to take place on 2nd May 2025.

If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on CV and the Personal Statement. Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.

Technical experience will be assessed at interview through a range of specific questions; there will be no formal written test or need to present previous work.

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

FR Holds a Licence To Sponsor Skilled Workers Under The Home Office Points-based Immigration System. Candidates Wishing To Apply Should Note That The Likelihood Of Obtaining Sponsorship Would Depend On An Assessment Of This Role Against Defined Criteria.

• Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Further information on nationality requirements can be found on our website.