Research Assistant

We are seeking to appoint a Research Assistant for a new 12-month project funded by the Ecological Citizens’ Grant. This project aims to deepen people’s connection with nature by developing and testing an interactive digital platform for species-level advocacy, creative engagement, and conservation action. It also includes piloting 2-3 Interspecies Assemblies—innovative, participatory events that bring the voice of nature into decision-making spaces.

The Research Assistant will help design, deliver, and evaluate these activities with strong support from the project's leads and collaborators. Based in the Department of Biology’s Oxford offices, the post holder will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI), project team members from the Nature-based Solutions Initiative (NbSI), and the new organisation, I Stand Beside (ISB). The role involves reviewing ecological and social science literature, collating information from biodiversity databases, supporting platform user testing, co-organising gatherings, designing and conducting surveys and data collected by the platform, analysing data, and helping draft reports and publications on the findings.

The successful applicant will be educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience in ecology, geography (social sciences), environmental sciences, or a related field. They will have demonstrable interest in and/or basic knowledge of biodiversity, conservation, and nature-based engagement approaches and familiarity with social sciences tools. Strong writing and digital literacy skills, able to produce concise content for websites and reports, and to adapt quickly to new systems or tools is essential. Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail; ability to multitask and meet deadlines under pressure are necessary.

Ideally the post holder will be able to start by 1 July 2025, or soon after.

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system, and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 23 May 2025, and interviews will be on 10 June 2025.

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