Research Fellow

We are seeking a Research Fellow on the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-funded project: “Integrating Finance and Biodiversity” (infinbio.org), focusing on the component lead by QUB on “Financing Green Sector Transitions”. The post is fixed-term for 21 months. There is an estimated US$880 billion gap in conservation and environmental mitigation funding globally. Government, philanthropy and conservation charities cover US$120 billion/year yet biodiversity continues to decline. Mobilising private investment, which is presently small, is necessary to plug the massive shortfall. One of the main obstacles to incorporating biodiversity into the private sector is the lack of financial value attributed to biodiversity and b iodiversity assets. This biodiversity focused Research Fellow will work collaboratively with two other Research Fellows (one in finance, the other in economics) to assess the evidence necessary to incentivise private investors in funding Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), with a focus on measurable biodiversity outcomes. Together, the Research Fellows will analyse linkages and drivers within the Finance-Biodiversity Nexus to assess opportunities and impediments to progress including developing suitable biodiversity metrics; the role and function of Environmental Impact Assessments, the role and function of NBSs; the evaluation and quantification of wider societal benefits; identifying additionality; the immaturity of NbSs; marketability within the financial sector; and offsetting unintended or perverse outcomes and consequences such as divesting/offshoring and non-equivalence offsetting. This project is a collaboration with a wide range of academic partners including, Newcastle, Nottingham, York, and Queen Mary’s London Universities.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following criteria:

• Hold, or are about to obtain* a PhD in Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental or Agricultural Economics or related subject area (*must be obtained within 3 months of commencement of employment).
• Have substantial relevant research experience in the area of biodiversity and/or conservation or agri-environment academia, practice or policy.
• Have a proven track record of critical evaluation of evidence, for example, data collation, gathering case studies, database creation, meta-analysis, systematic review, quantitative statistical analyses.

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 on our website.

This is a fixed term post for 21 months, or until 31 March 2026, whichever is soonest. 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 on our website.

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.

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