Postdoctoral Research Associate

Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy

Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute

This full-time post is available immediately until 15 January 2025 and based at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus.

The post

The Business School wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to participate in the NetZeroPlus: Sustainable Treescapes Demonstrator and Decision Tools project. The NetZeroPlus project will play a critical role in supporting the UK Government commitment to achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Of the Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) options available, increasing the carbon stored in the UK’s ‘treescapes’ has the greatest potential, the lowest costs and can be started immediately. Planting woodlands can store carbon in standing trees, in forest soils and in timber produces. Net Zero Plus will examine all the diverse aspects of forestry to identify “The right tree in the right place”.

You will work with Dr Amy Binner to design, deliver and publish primary research outputs and engage with a variety of partners. This will involve utilising both qualitative and quantitative research methods to develop a methodology for structuring discussions and identifying organisational priorities at national, regional, community scales. Ultimately this work will support the development and implementation of Natural Capital Approaches. You will work with the project partners and NetZeroPlus colleagues to codevelop bespoke decision support tools that will translate outputs from environmental and economic models into interrogatable and digestible information that can be used by businesses, local authorities, policymakers, and landowners in making decisions regarding management or utilisation of the natural environment.

About You

You will have mixed-methods expertise, including practical experience of interview and survey techniques, participatory action research and experience of interdisciplinary working. The NetZeroPlus (NZP) project will play a critical role in supporting the UK Government’s commitment to achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while delivering substantial co-benefits and trade-offs such as impacts on food production, wildlife and habitat provision, water quality, quantity and flood risk, access to green spaces and associated physical and mental health benefits.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification (available on the university's website, accessed by the apply button) for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally recognised research.
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly.
• An Innovation, Impact, and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development.
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave(up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy.
• We offer a supportive study leave policy and ample research time.
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

For further information please contact Amy Binner, e-mail A.R.Binner@exeter.ac.uk. or telephone 01392 726355.

Interviews are expected to take place in January 2023.

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