Applications are sought for a committed Post-doctoral Research Fellow to work with Dr Enrico Pirotta, Professor Len Thomas and Dr Catriona Harris conducting research for a US Office of Naval Research funded project entitled “Advancing the integration of data from behavioural response studies to inform models of the population consequences of disturbance”.  The primary duties will be to collaborate with researchers developing new models and analytical methods for advancing the analysis of the data generated from marine mammal behavioural response studies (BRS) to guide their effective integration into population consequences of disturbance (PCoD) models to allow better understanding of potential long-term population-level effects of exposure to US Navy sonar.

The successful applicant will have (or be near to completion of) a PhD in Statistics or closely-related discipline with a demonstrable interest in developing and using statistical methods to solve real-world ecological or environmental problems. 

The post is available for 30 months starting as soon as possible.

St Andrews offers more than just a place to work—it is a place to belong. We value collegiality, inclusion, and wellbeing, and we are committed to creating a workplace where staff can thrive and perform at their best.

In addition to the salary on offer for this position, there are a wide range of benefits for staff working at the University of St Andrews. The package for the Post-doctoral Research Fellow includes:

• Financial contribution to relocation (subject to eligibility)
• Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies supporting work life balance
• Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services
• Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel
• Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme
• 34 days annual leave plus 5 public holidays

Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Catriona Harris, email: Catriona.Harris@st-andrews.ac.uk.

At St Andrews, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to who we are and form a core pillar of our University Strategy. We are committed to creating a fair, inclusive and supportive workplace, reflected in our participation in national diversity charters and awards, including Athena Swan, Carer Positive and the Race Equality Charter.

We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian, minority ethnic and minority religions backgrounds and from LGBTQ+ and disabled people. 

Closing Date: 8 July 2026

Interview Date: to be confirmed (around 19-21 August 2026)

Please quote ref: AR3291SB

Job Description: AR3291SB FPs.pdf

School of Mathematics and Statistics

Salary: £38,784 - £42,254 per annum

Start: As soon as possible

Fixed term for 30 months