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PDRA in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics (SAMS)
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PDRA in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics
Location: SAMS, Oban
Contract Type: Fixed Term: 2 years
Working Pattern: Full Time
Salary: £32,546 - £34,132 per annum
Closing date: Tuesday 22nd September 2026
The Role
The successful candidate will join the SAMS Marine Mammal Research Team (SMMRT) and deliver research and education in marine mammal science and bioacoustics. This exciting role will focus on developing and applying cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), underwater acoustic modelling, and software tools to support marine mammal monitoring and conservation.
The candidate will be working within the MOSAIC project, a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). As part of this project, the candidate will collect underwater acoustic recordings, apply existing and develop new automated analysis tools for marine mammal species detection, classification, and underwater soundscape assessments. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of marine science, acoustics, machine learning, and software development, contributing to solutions that inform research, environmental management, and conservation in waters around the island of Ireland.
The candidate will also help the wider SAMS Marine Mammal Research Team deliver projects to progress the team’s capabilities including equipment maintenance, fieldwork and data collection. Finally, and depending on interest, the post holder may also contribute to teaching, for example on the Marine Megafauna Module of SAMS Marine Science BSc degree.
- See project announcement here: LA_MOSAIC
- See link to PEACEPLUS website [PEACEPLUS | SEUPB](PEACEPLUS | SEUPB)
Our Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher with enthusiasm for the study and conservation of the marine environment. A PhD related to marine mammal bioacoustics is essential. You should be comfortable in the field as well as in the lab and be able to work collaboratively as part of a small research team. Our ideal candidate would have a strong background in the collection and analysis of long-term passive acoustic (using static, drifting and towed hydrophones) data. In addition, skills in species distribution and habitat modelling, as well as proficiency in standard programming languages are sought (e.g., R, Python and/or MATLAB). Experience regarding visual survey planning, fieldwork and data analysis (photo-ID, focal follow, line-transect surveys) are also essential. An awareness of UK and Scottish marine environmental regulatory processes in relation to MPAs as well as marine industry (e.g., vessel traffic, renewables) monitoring and management is expected.
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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.
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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 people@sams.ac.uk
Applications must include CV and Cover Letter and should be sent electronically to recruitment@sams.ac.uk quoting Job Ref. ‘D14/26.DR’ in the subject heading.
Full Details Can Be Found Here
- [PDRA in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics - Job Description.pdf](PDRA in Marine Mammal Bioacoustics - Job Description.pdf)
- [PDRA Marine Mammal Bioacoustics - JD Accessible Format.pdf](PDRA Marine Mammal Bioacoustics - JD Accessible Format.pdf)
Please find further information below on how we can help you apply:
Applicant Support & Guidance
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.
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