Job Description

We are seeking a Research Assistant to work on a joint-funded Seale-Hayne Education Trust and Centre for Research Excellence in Sustainable and Productive Systems project to investigate the status of free-living honey bees in the UK. This exciting project will bring new knowledge and data on the distribution of free-living honey bees including assessments of introgression and morphometry.

About the role

The RA will report to Dr Jonathan Ellis and Prof Mairi Knight. The project will use citizen science reports to map and investigate location, identity and distribution of free-living honey bees, focusing on SW England.



The project will use social media campaigns, beekeeper communication channels and an online reporting platform (Honey Bee Watch, promoted in Ireland and continental Europe, but less so in the UK) to investigate colonies of free-living honey bees. Reports of nests will be followed-up by site visits and sampling of colonies over the summer period when bees are active. Sampled bees will be genotyped using available SNP-chips to measure the degree of introgression from C lineage bees into free-living bees. Morphometry will be investigated e.g using DrawWing to assess wing landmarks and assess body shape, colour of tergites 1-3 and tomentosity of the thorax and abdomen. The RA will conduct this work in collaboration with the project leads and external organisations.



There is an essential requirement within this role that you will be required to travel to and work at different University sites and/or other business locations that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Please refer to the job description for further information.



Due to the nature of the role, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate working from home.



This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 7 months due to the nature of the funding.

What we're looking for

You should have an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences or a related discipline and experience of working on ecological or laboratory research projects. Good interpersonal skills and a willingness to engage with social media, the public and other stakeholders are essential. A full UK driving licence (or international equivalent) is desirable as is the ability to work independently and under supervision.



For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.



For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Jonathan Ellis: by email at jonathan.s.ellis@plymouth.ac.uk



Please note: We are currently unable to sponsor this role under the Skilled Worker visa route. However, we welcome all applicants, as other visa options may be available.

About us

The School of Biological and Marine Sciences holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education.



For more information on School of Biological and Marine Sciences please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.



Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Anticipated Interview Date(s):

Week commencing Monday 19 January 2026

Our Offer

When joining us, you will receive:

Generous annual leave

: 25 Days Annual Leave

plus

Bank Holidays & Closure Days Generous pension scheme Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme Employee Assistance Programme Development opportunities Enhanced family leave Flexible working Retailer discounts On-site nursery

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter, please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.