WM Net-Zero Social Science Research Fellow

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract up to September 2026 

We are seeking a skilled social scientist with an aptitude for working in multi-disciplinary teams to generate crucial social science insights through engagement with research, policy and citizen communities, to inform and generate impactful research in relation to the important and emerging intersections between the societal challenges of Net Zero, Air Quality, and Health.

You will be a pivotal member of the Wellcome-funded project, WM-Net Zero, undertaking social science research and knowledge exchange to generate valuable insights to ensure the project’s interdisciplinary research programme is of value to a wide range of local, regional and national stakeholders and communities. Under the guidance of Dr. Louise Reardon,  Dr. Rosie Day and Dr. Suzanne Bartington, you will work closely with our key partners to ensure that our research is relevant to communities, beneficial to our stakeholders and has the potential to inform and influence relevant strategies, decision-making, and activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct social science research in response to project needs, for example stakeholder and policy mapping, document analysis, interviews and focus groups, and analysis of outputs of community engagement activities.
• Stakeholder engagement: maintain and develop relationships with existing and new stakeholders, working closely with them to understand their needs and objectives
• Community engagement: contribute to activities to engage and involve wider communities, and design evaluations of such activities.

Person Specification

• Educated to Degree level with a PhD (or one near to completion) in a relevant social science discipline such as political science, human geography, sociology, or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Experience of using qualitative methods in research, including conducting documentary analysis, and conducting and analysing interviews, focus groups, ideally in an area related to climate, air quality, health or public policy
• Experience of applying analytical frameworks, theories and concepts from the social sciences to understand barriers and enablers of social change (broadly conceived)
• Excellent communication skills, including writing in an accessible way for various non-specialist audiences
• The ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences
• Ability to work independently as well as within a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to manage own time and prioritise to meet deadlines, and to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively (including people, time, money and equipment).
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes

Informal enquiries to Rosie Day, email: r.j.day@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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