Hiring: Post-Doctoral Researcher – I-MORE

The Marine Geosciences Research Group, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Science, University College Cork, are seeking a motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher to join the I-MORE project. The successful candidate will be based at UCC in the Marine Geosciences Research Group and will work closely with industry partners (Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions) as well as academics and researchers in partner institutions (SFI Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG) and the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine (MaREI)).

 

Offshore wind energy is rapidly coming of age, with European offshore wind output at the end of 2020 at approximately 25 GW. In parallel with the increased volume of offshore energy, there has been a dramatic reduction in the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) for recent European projects. However, despite offshore wind gaining global traction and Ireland being one of the earliest movers of this technology when the Arklow Bank Phase 1 wind farm was commissioned in 2004, Ireland are now significantly behind the curve with respect to global offshore wind markets.

 

The I-MORE project is a multi-disciplinary project involving industry, academic and state partners that will act as a pilot study to demonstrate the potential for early stage national survey campaigns to provide baseline data to inform marine spatial planning and optimised offshore wind developments. The project will focus on gathering early stage site information with respect to geological, geophysical, geotechnical and metocean conditions to allow a holistic view of an offshore zone/site to be determined. The project will initially target a number of key sites for site investigation using advanced geotechnical methods. Initially, existing geophysical and geological datasets (e.g. INFOMAR) will be analysed, interpreted, and developed into a set of ground models to inform shallow ground conditions and assist with site identification. Following site data collection, the geotechnical data will be integrated with the legacy geophysical data to develop a new geotechno-stratigraphic framework and classification for Irish specific seabed conditions. This map output can be used to inform the potential for offshore wind energy through a combined suitability, constraint and hazard analysis with regard to marine spatial planning.

 

Scope

 

Post-Doctoral Researcher will drive Work Package 2 of I-MORE: Pilot Site Identification.

 

The aim of this WP is to conduct a desktop study to identify potential sites for surveying during WP3 by establishing a national constraint map pertinent to the overall objects of the I-MORE project (i.e. select sites and characterise); produce a stakeholder engagement roadmap; hold a stakeholder workshop; and produce optimal site listing and characterisation report. By the end of this WP, the I-MORE project will have identified the preferred, optimal sites to survey for the next phase of the project; characterised thee sites by an initial ground model using available geological and geophysical data; and identified and engaged with all major stakeholders on the project.

 

Project Title: Informing and Mapping the Offshore Renewable Environment (I-MORE)

 

Post Duration: 12 Months

 

Salary: €38,630 – €45,942 p.a. (IUA Salary Scale)

 

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/.

 

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Andy Wheeler, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Email: ei.ccu@releehw.a.

 

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to ei.ccu@tnemtiurcer, quoting the job-title and project name.

 

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Monday, 26 April 2021. No late applications will be accepted.

 

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

 

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

 

 

Contact Person :	Professor Andy Wheeler	Contact Email :	ei.ccu@releehw.a
Job ID :	044491	Close Date :	26-Apr-2021 12:00