Researcher in Food Systems

Location: South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY

Salary: Grade 7 £38674 - £46913 A less experienced candidate may be appointed at Grade 6 (£38,674 - £40,855 per annum), with a commensurate adjustment in either the essential criteria, responsibilities or duties.

The Environmental Change Institute is looking to appoint a Researcher for the FOSTER [Fostering food system transformation by integrating heterogeneous perspectives in knowledge and innovation within the European Research Area] Project. 

THE PROJECT

FOSTER [Fostering food system transformation by integrating heterogeneous perspectives in knowledge and innovation within the European Research Area] has the vision to build a foundation from which a new Knowledge and Innovation (K&I) governance structure for Europe's food system can emerge. This new structure is needed because the current K&I system in the European Research Area is insufficient to address the emerging challenges of nourishing Europe in a healthy and sustainable way. While great progress in satisfying food demand has been made over receding decades, the growing awareness of the health and environmental outcomes of the current system, and how these interact with society, call for a new approach to K&I. This needs to be underpinned by enhanced governance drawing together food system science with other forms of knowledge, notably Citizen Science. By working together more effectively, traditional knowledge providers (i.e. universities and research institutions), citizen scientists and policymakers can co-create the necessary new foundation. This will need new ways to harness existing knowledge and capacity building to interface this with integrated food systems thinking, closely linked to citizen-led initiatives with strong policy interactions.

Led by DIL (the German Institute of Food Technologies), FOSTER's overall objective is to gain insight into how knowledge and innovation systems can be adapted, made more inclusive and better governed to transform Europe's food system outcomes for health, enterprise and the environment. Drawing on the success of the IFSTAL programme, ECI's Food Systems Transformation Group will lead Work Package 2 to create a FOSTER Academy.

The successful candidate will report to Dr. John Ingram in the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. The post holder will be a member of the ECI Food Systems Transformation research group. The Researcher will apply knowledge and experience of systems thinking and an understanding of the processes for food system transformation. Particular emphasis will be on engaging with a range of stakeholders to develop teaching and training materials for the FOSTER Mutual Learning Network and coordinating the development of a set of Learning Papers stemming from work across the project.

This will involve working closely with Researchers at collaborating universities as well as our citizen science partners. The role provides an opportunity to help shape the delivery of a European and inter and trans-disciplinary teaching and learning Academy.

The post holder will need to be proactive, working both independently and as part of a team, whilst managing and prioritising a busy workload.

Applications for this vacancy should be made online. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your application, explaining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post.

For further guidance and support, please visit https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/how-to-apply

The closing date for applications is midday on 29 January 2025.

Interviews are anticipated to take place either 6th or 7th February 2025, with exact dates to be confirmed.

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