Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the 4th UK Climate Change Risk Assessment

The Adaptation Committee’s Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk sets out the priority climate change risks and opportunities for the UK and is assessed every four years. The report draws on an extensive programme of analysis, consultation and consideration by the Committee involving over 450 people, 130 organisations and more than 1,500 pages of evidence and analysis. The University of Reading is co-leading the chapter on Land, Food and Nature for the fourth UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Technical Report (CCRA4) as part of the Met Office Academic Partnership which won the tender to deliver the Technical Report for CCRA4.

We are seeking a PDRA to work on an exciting new project as part of the Climate Change Committee’s ‘Climate Change Risk Assessment 4’ (CCRA4). The PDRA will work with the Lead Authors of the Technical Report chapter on Land, Food and Nature, having a key role in delivering this chapter. Tasks will include liaising with the Lead Authors and Contributing Authors, scoping out key climate change risks in this area, consolidating text reviewing risks, and helping to produce the final chapter. We are seeking a person with a PhD in a related area, who has good organisational skills and a broad interest in climate change impacts and working on translating science into policy.

The successful applicant will have:

• Excellent written communication skills, particularly in conveying complex messages and editing inputs from a variety of sources into a coherent narrative.
• Good organisational skills, ability to self-direct and set own priorities.
• Knowledge of some aspects of food and natural systems
• Ability to work with the team co-authoring the Chapter and the wider Technical Report authorship and delivery team across the partnership
• Experience of writing literature reviews, large bodies of academic work
• Experience of stakeholder engagement

The postholder will work closely with: Prof Carol Wagstaff (University of Reading), Dr James Bullock (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) and Dr Sevrine Sailley (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) who are the chapter co-authors. The University of Reading supports flexible and remote working patterns.

Please see the job description and personal specification for further details.
The closing date for applications is 23.59 on Friday, 21 June 2024
Interview date - TBC

Informal contact details
Contact role: Principal Investigator
Contact name: Prof Carol Wagstaff
Contact phone: 0118 378 5362
Contact email: c.wagstaff@reading.ac.uk

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route.  Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. Successful candidates not already holding a Skilled Worker visa issued before 4th April 2024 will have to have been ‘awarded’ their PhD before being able to be sponsored. There is further information about visas on the UK Visas and Immigration Website. 

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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