Research Associate / Fellow: Environment, Economy and Society

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate or Research Fellow to contribute to the ERI’s ‘Society’ theme. The post will provide an exciting opportunity to contribute to current projects and develop new areas of activity.

The ERI’s ‘Society’ theme seeks to articulate our work on environmental sciences to address societal and economic needs across the three ‘pillars’ of sustainability, carbon economics and the circular economy. Issues affecting rural, remote, coastal and island regions and their communities are of particular interest and the theme is a key mechanism through which the ERI supports the core UHI mission of having “a transformational impact on the prospects of our region, its economy, its people and its communities”. The theme provides a conduit through which the ERI can respond to the Scottish Government aim of creating “a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increased wellbeing, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth through good quality, green jobs and ensure a fair and just transition to net-zero, leaving no-one behind”. The successful candidate will be based at the purpose-built ‘Centre for Energy and the Environment’ in Thurso, and will contribute to teams at the ERI, UHI North Highland, and UHI.

Job Description

The successful candidate will:

Lead delivery of existing project commitments in the ERI ‘Energy’ and ‘Society’ themes, and the development of ERI’s portfolio of socioeconomic research. This will include:

• Delivery of socioeconomic, social acceptance, and supply chain mapping research for net-zero aviation in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as part of the SATE project (link)
• Delivery of socioeconomics, social impact, and social acceptance research of renewable energy transition in the Western Isles of Scotland as part of the ROBINSON project (link)

Contribute to development of ERI’s portfolio of socioeconomic research, through new project formulation, grant capture and KE activity. Current priorities include:

• Sustainability & renewable energy
• ‘OneHealth’
• Green finance
• Plastics and society
• Circular economy
• Sustainable and regenerative land use

Publish work in high impact peer-reviewed journals (and contribute to the University’s next REF submission).

Contribute to teaching activity at undergraduate and postgraduate level on sustainability, net-zero, renewable energy, and community development.

Where appropriate contribute to knowledge exchange and external engagement activity.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from candidates with a PhD and/or equivalent experience in relevant disciplines including social sciences, environmental or resource economics, circular economy, environmental management and stewardship, renewable energy, ‘OneHealth’ etc.

Full details are available in the Recruitment Pack

The ERI’s Strategic Plan is provided as an attachment.

Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form.

The closing date for applications is Monday 6 March 2023. Interviews are planned for 13 March 2023 onwards.

Informal enquires can be made to Dr Benjamin Williamson benjamin.williamson@uhi.ac.uk

https://eri.ac.uk/members/benjamin-williamson/

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