Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Start Date: 15 September 2025

Fixed Term for 16 Months

Part Time: 29 Hours per week

Applications are sought for a committed Post-Doctoral Research Fellow to work with Dr Ife Okafor-Yarwood (University of St Andrews) and Dr Lucas de Oliveira Paes (Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norway), as part of the Research Council of Norway-funded project RESOLVING: Rebundling Sovereignty over Local Nature in Global Governance, which focuses on multilevel environmental governance networks in the Amazon rainforest and the Gulf of Guinea.

The primary research duties will be to:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of research on environmental governance in the Amazon and the Gulf of Guinea;
• Conduct data collection, analysis, and dissemination of research findings through high-quality publications;
• Collaborate with project partners and other researchers within the research group to advance knowledge on sovereignty, ocean governance, and natural resource management, and
• Take the lead in setting up and managing the research group's web page and social media accounts

More broadly, the successful applicant will also be expected to:

• Maintain a strong focus on publishing in leading journals and presenting research at relevant conferences and workshops;
• Show initiative in seeking and applying for external grants to support future research activities and
• Contribute to the school's academic life, including mentoring students, participating in relevant committees, and supporting project-related events.

The successful applicant will have (or be near to completion of) a PhD in International Relations, Political Ecology, Law of the sea, Human Geography, Social Anthropology, History, Philosophy, or a related discipline, with a particular focus on subfields such as Global Environmental Politics, Critical Security Studies, Development Studies, or Political Geography. Expertise in conducting mixed-methods research, critical review of the themes related to the project and excellent research communication and management skills are essential.

The post is available for 16 to 18 months starting 15 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Employees of the University have access to a wide range of staff benefits, including:

• Annual leave of 34 days, plus 5 public holidays
• Financial contribution to relocation
• Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies
• Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services
• Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel
• Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme
• A range of wellbeing initiatives including membership of Peppy, a health application that connects staff to expert practitioners and personalized support on health matters

Further details of the project can be found at Rebundling sovereignty over local nature in global governance or by contacting Dr Okafor-Yarwood (imoy1@st-andrews.ac.uk) and Dr de Oliveira Paes (lucas.paes@nupi.no)

Applications are particularly welcome from, people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in research posts at the University.  

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the St Andrews experience and form a central pillar of the University Strategy. We strive to create a fair and inclusive culture demonstrated through our commitment to diversity awards (Athena Swan, Carer Positive, LGBT Charter and Race Charters). We celebrate diversity by promoting profiles of BAME, LGBTIQ+ staff and supporting networks including the Staff BAME Network; Staff with Disabilities Network; Staff LGBTIQ+ Network; and the Staff Parents & Carers Network. Full details available online: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/

Interview Date: 4 August 2025 

Closing Date: 25 July 2025

Please quote ref: AR3144LS

Further Particulars: AR3144LS FPs.pdf