Job opportunities

PDRA/Wildlife Veterinarian

Position Details:

Position: Post Doctorate Research Associate/Wildlife Veterinarian (Science, Full-time/ 2 years fixed-term contract)

Salary: £39,508 (inclusive of London Weighting) per annum

Location: Regent’s Park and UK fieldwork

 

Overview of the Role

The purpose of this role is to obtain blood and/or tissue samples from a wide range of British wildlife species for whole genome sequencing as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project https://www.darwintreeoflife.org/. The post holder will work with Professor Andrew Cunningham at IoZ and with partner organisations, specifically the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Arranging sampling opportunities with bird ringing groups along with the BTO and developing additional collaborations to help maximise the number of species sampled also will be expected. The postholder will be based at the Institute of Zoology, Regent’s Park, London, but will spend much of their time travelling within the UK to conduct sampling of wildlife as opportunities arise. Blood sampling will be conducted under ASPA Home Office license. Tissue sampling will be conducted opportunistically from fresh cadavers.

 

Key Responsibilities

• To develop and maintain good relations with collaborators, including bird ringing groups, and to develop new collaborations for opportunistic sampling to maximise species coverage.
• To visit field sites across the UK to collect blood or tissue samples from British wild animals, in particular birds, with minimal impact on animal welfare. Blood samples will be taken under ASPA Home Office license in collaboration with licensed bird ringers.
• Responsible for labelling, storing, handling and transporting samples in a way that maintains their genomic integrity and identifiability, and for submitting samples to the Wellcome Sanger Institute in a timely manner.
• To comply with ASPA Home Office license requirements and to liaise with the Project License holder.
• To develop, update and maintain databases and administration systems for the smooth running of the project, ensuring accuracy of data being inputted and of written reports.
• To contribute to and develop science outputs, such as peer-reviewed publications, scientific posters and conference presentations and educational materials for wider outreach.

 

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in handling wild animals, including birds.
• Have experience in blood sampling a range of wild animal species.
• Be educated to veterinary and/or PhD degree level or can demonstrate such a level of equivalent qualifications and experience through relevant practical work experience.
• Have a UK driving licence.
• Possess advanced skills in using MS office packages, specifically Excel.
• Have strong written and oral communication skills.
• Be able to demonstrate high accuracy and attention to detail with reference to written communications, such as the labelling of biological samples.
• Have access to their own vehicle to drive to field sites within the UK.

 

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.

 

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

 

What do we offer?

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:

· Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct

· Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme.

· Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you

· Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays

· Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

· Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops

· Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle

· Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work

· Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity and paternity packages