Research Fellow

Hours: Full time considered up to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week. Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).

Salary: Grade 7 starting at £38,249 to £45,413 per annum, pro rata if part time.

About the role

Contract Type: Fixed term for six months

Expected Interview date: To be confirmed.

Expected start date: August 2025

About the role 

As a research fellow, you will be working on an ESRC-funded research project analysing the growth in carbon plantations, afforestation and farmland investments in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

The research will explore the impact of carbon and reforestation policies on farming landscapes and the forms of forestry emerging through private sector involvement. The findings will be used to develop policy advice and provide the basis for long-term strategies on carbon offsetting, land restoration and food systems in the UK and beyond.

While you will be joining a small team led by Dr Will Lock, you will also have the freedom to conduct your own ethnographic fieldwork, interviewing farmers and community members surrounding Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire. You will be supported through fieldwork and will have a period of preparation and analysis before and after the research.

The role will entail: 

• Planning fieldwork, under the guidance and with the contacts of the Principal Investigator (PI).
• Conducting interviews and exploring life stories of those impacted by forestry past, present and future.
• Visiting carbon plantations and afforestation projects to understand their form, diversity and aesthetics.
• Hosting participatory research sessions or events with communities, alongside the PI.
• Assisting in analysing this material. 
• The option to collaborate on a journal paper. 

About you

Ideally, you will have, or be about to obtain, a PhD in a relevant field (such as, but not limited to, anthropology, sociology, geography or development studies), or have an appropriate level of experience in farming, forestry or land-use research. You should also have the skills to manage your own workload and work independently, while feeding into and collaborating with a team.

You will have some experience of qualitative research, ideally ethnographic, and the confidence to reach out and speak to a wide range of different actors. A keen interest in debates around land use, forestry, food systems and climate change – and an appreciation for the Welsh cultural context – is also critical. A working knowledge of the Welsh language is not essential but would be highly beneficial.

About our Division/School

Please find further information regarding the School of Global Studies. 

Why work here

Find out more about our reward and benefits package.

Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion

Further Key Information

Please contact Dr Will Lock, W.Lock@Sussex.ac.uk for informal enquiries. We welcome enquiries regarding workplace and role adjustments.

For full details and to apply on-line, please click the above “Apply” button.

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK. 

Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code, and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship. 

Closing Date: June 1, 2025 11:59 PM

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