Postdoctoral Research Associate - Biodiversity and land use modelling

Role Description

Research Centre & Department

The Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity (LCAB) is a research centre of academics from a wide range of disciplines collaborating  to increase knowledge of how the relationship between humanity and the natural world is changing, and how we might maintain and develop a sustainable Earth and bring about positive change. The position is linked to the Department of Environment and Geography, and will be line managed by Christopher Lyon (Environment & Geography) with mentorship from Lindsey Gillson (Biology) and Juan Pablo Cordero Garayar (Environment & Geography).

Role

The United Kingdom is facing complex challenges and opportunities for biodiversity in the face of changing agricultural policy, and climate change. The benefits and trade-offs of different ways to address these challenges are difficult to understand for land managers, policy makers, and the public. To aid understanding of this complexity, you will adapt and develop an existing land use and food system modelling and decision-support tool to incorporate biodiversity and land use. This data-driven tool provides diverse users with a manipulatable graphical interface to explore the impact of different drivers of change (e.g. climate, policy, pollution) on various metrics of land use and biodiversity under different scenarios for the UK. 

Key Responsibilities include:

• To develop and adapt a land use and food system modelling tool to incorporate biodiversity and land-use change.

• To undertake world-leading individual and collaborative research to increase the understanding of biodiversity change.

• To write up research findings and disseminate through publications, presentations, and outreach activities.

• To collaborate with other researchers to increase the effectiveness of interdisciplinary research in the Centre 

• To contribute to the preparation of future research proposals. 

Skills, Experience & Qualifications needed

• PhD in an appropriate subject area (awarded or submitted).

• Proficiency in Python for scientific computing, including basic scientific libraries (e.g. NumPy, pandas).

• Experience with biodiversity-related indicators (e.g. species richness, abundance-based indicators, habitat metrics).

• Experience working with large environmental datasets, data techniques and quantitative models. 

• Familiarity with GIS is advantageous. 

• Ability to write up research for high profile publications (e.g. journals, monographs, books) and competency in presenting work at conferences/events.

• Excellent communication skills with experience of engagement across disciplines and with non-academic audiences.

• Ability to develop own and collaborative research, identify sources of funding and contribute to securing these with the assistance of a mentor if required. 

• Experience of and capacity to carry out independent and collaborative research.

Interview date: June 2026. The post must commence by 30th Sept 2026. 

For informal enquiries: please contact christopher.lyon@york.ac.uk. 

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum (essential) criteria for each position will be offered an interview.  Read more about the University of York’s commitments under the Disability Confident scheme.