27-01-06
ERI
Set to Recruit 12 Specialists
Funding boost as Thurso Institute aims to be centre of
excellence
Thurso's Environmental
Research Institute is set for another wave of expansion with 12 new high-calibre
specialists being recruited to boost it's trailblazing research.
The Institute has gone from strength to strength since starting up six
years ago in the former West Public School in the town's Castle Street.
Public-sector funding of £2.1million is being used to support the
latest growth in the operation, which is a campus of the North Highland
College. It is part of over £11 million allocated to the research
network operated by UHI.
The ERI currently employs 15 in a range of high-tech fields, with it's
work on climate change last year attracting international attention.
Advertisements are being placed to fill the 12 new posts as part of it's
drive to bolster it's growing reputation as a centre of excellence.
It is seeking research fellows and senior resaerch fellows to work in
areas including environmental microbiology, meteorology and climate resaerch.
A post-doctoral research associate in biogeochemistry, a PhD studentship
and laboratory and ICT technicians are also being sought.
ERi director Stuart Gibb said yesterday the funding package had been secured
through an extensive and concerted effort across the UHI network. He added:
"The ERI is becoming a vibrant and dynamic centre of research in
the environmental sciences. This exciting funding package will allow us
to attract new staff, improve our facilities and enhance our research
capabilities.
"It is a huge boost towards our aspiration of creating a recognised
centre of excellence for the environmental sciences here in Caithness."
The UHI funding is designed to develop the research capacity of its network
over the next four years and will helpits bid to secure university status
by next year.
The overall funding package includes £5 million from Highlands and
Islands Enterprise; £3 million from the Scottish Funding Council;
and £1.45 million from the European Regional Development Fund.
Professor Bob Cormack, the UHI principal, said the new posts were another
important step towards university status.
He said: "We are striving to become one of the foremost research-based
universities in the world, and we believe we can attract some highly talented
specialists who will be impressed by the work already going on around
our network.
"The Highlands and Islands are a natural laboratory of international
importance and our ongoing research already reflects that.
"Our increased commitment to research will bring high-quality jobs
to the area and will generate significant economic development."
