The Co-Centre for Climate Plus Biodiversity and Water (Climate+) is seeking to recruit an experienced and motivated Research Fellow to play an active role as part of a new research project team across several Schools at Queen’s University Belfast. The Co-Centre is an exciting new tri-jurisdictional initiative spanning Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, which is managed jointly by QUB and Trinity College Dublin and funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), DAERA and UKRI. The Co-Centre will aims to be the home of research, innovation, and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation on the islands of Ireland and Britain, with the goal of integrating research across both islands to address these crises.
The Research Fellow will join QUB’s School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and work as part of an interdisciplinary team, primarily within the Co-Centre’s work package 3.1 ‘Inclusive decision-making spaces.’ Work Package 3.1 aims to contribute to the development of inclusive decision-making spaces for multilevel climate and biodiversity action through participatory action research with communities across the island of Ireland.
WP3.1 seeks to assess how different communities understand and approach climate change, biodiversity, land use, and water. WP3.1 aims to foster sustainable communities that can deliver Net Zero, reverse biodiversity loss and restore good water quality. Recognising that different communities have diverse needs, WP3.1 seeks to cocreate mechanisms for action, in and with communities, spanning two key strands of place-based action that will occur simultaneously: (1) inclusive decision-making via citizens’ juries; (2) policies and practices for community climate action via Community Climate Action Networks, influenced by principles and practices of community development, adult and community education, and conflict transformation.
The successful candidate will hold a critical role within WP3.1 and have responsibilities in research co-design, implementation and analysis; planning and delivery of activities; collaborations with diverse communities and stakeholders; and outreach. The position is available immediately.
About the person:
The successful candidate will have or be about to obtain a PhD in a relevant social science discipline, such as sociology, anthropology, development studies, or politics. They will provide evidence of their interest in societyenvironment interactions and applied community-oriented research.
The successful candidate will have at least 3 years’ research experience in the social sciences with: experience of conducting qualitative primary data collection; secondary data synthesis; and relevant qualitative analysis skills as evidenced by publication in peer reviewed journals. They will also have experience of: applied community work/ community engagement/ research with communities; working effectively as part of a research team in the development and promotion of the research theme; strong publication record commensurate with stage of career.
To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.
This post is available for 34 months.Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.
What we offer:
Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/
Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.
For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.
Candidate Information
Further Information for International Applicants