Social Scientist in Sustainable Farming Systems

Location: Aberdeen Scotland and Enniskillen Northern Ireland

The work of The James Hutton Group is at the top of the global agenda tackling problems such as climate change and threats to food, biodiversity, soils, and water security. The Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department includes over fifty researchers using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method techniques and often taking interdisciplinary and/or participatory perspectives. 

Main Purpose

National policy requirements for achieving net zero by 2050 necessitate land use strategies that account for multiple objectives, are implemented across multiple scales, and can only succeed if they are considered just. The JUSTLANZ project contributes to this goal by developing pathways for a just transition to net zero. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic social scientist to support this work, conceptually and empirically. They will lead analysis on the adaptive capacity of farmers and food-farming systems, and integrate this knowledge with elements from other parts of the project to identify trade-offs between objectives. Additionally, they will be responsible for implementing JUSTLANZ’s research in the Lough Erne (Northern Ireland) case study area.

This is a three-year position that entails developing and nurturing relationships of trust with the farming community and sector representatives, and requires substantial time spent on-site, for which a working space will be provided. The post can be based in Aberdeen (Scotland) or in Lough Erne (Northern Ireland). Reasonable travel costs to project meetings and/or the case study area will be covered. Flexible working arrangements can also be considered.

The postholder will work in close collaboration with researchers across the natural and social sciences, including three post-doctoral researchers in other UK case study areas. They will be supported in their professional development through training, line management, and mentorship opportunities. 

Main duties

• Lead research on the adaptive capacity of farmers and the food-farming system to net zero.
• Co-lead identification and systematisation of secondary data on UK farming-food systems.
• Work with the project’s farming community and sector representative, to implement the above research in the Lough Erne case study, coordinating across all four case studies.
• Co-lead on incorporating the above knowledge into “aspirational scenarios,” and on identifying trade-offs and synergies with “plausible scenarios.”
• Support a review and synthesis of the academic and grey literature on land management measures.
• Collaborate in the design of research for eliciting values and attitudes of the farming community.
• Prepare papers for publication in leading international journals and disseminate research to non-academic audiences.
• Contribute to generating and pursuing original research ideas in the above subject areas. 

Essential Education/Experience/Skills

• A PhD in a social sciences discipline with environmental or agricultural focus.
• Experience of designing and implementing primary data collection using qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups), or willingness to learn and apply the resulting skills.
• Experience of analysing and summarising quantitative data using appropriate software tools.
• Experience in engaging with non-academic stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including with non-academic audiences.
• Ability to produce manuscripts for peer-reviewed academic publication.
• Good time management and planning skills.
• A proven ability to work well both individually and in a team.
• Ability to occasionally travel for fieldwork, project meetings, conferences. 

Additional notes/Requirements 

The closing date for applications is 04 November. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

For further information and to apply please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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