Research Fellowships in Global Methane Politics (Oil and Gas)

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Contract: Fixed term (To complete a specific task or time limited work for 36 months from 1^st October 2026)

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have interests or background in environmental politics, political ecology or related areas? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

The Global Methane Politics project (METH-POL) is a five-year European Research Council-funded project led by Professor Jan Selby in the School of Politics and International Studies at Leeds. The overall objectives of this project are to contribute to global climate change research and practice by exploring 1) the distinctive political dynamics and challenges associated with methane emissions and methane emission reduction efforts; and 2) why methane emissions are proving so hard to control, despite their acknowledged importance as a short-term climate forcer and the abundance of low-cost technical mitigation solutions. The project will involve research across five major methane emitting sectors – livestock, oil and gas, solid waste, coal, and wastewater – and in more than a dozen countries spanning global North and South, and every continent. The project adopts a broadly political ecology theoretical approach, and will involve research at many different scales, from international policy arenas right down to the level of individual mines, farms and treatment plants where methane is emitted and governed in practice. The project will principally make use of qualitative methods, especially documentary analysis, interviews and observations.

The 3 Research Fellows will join the project for three years from September 2026, focusing respectively on 1) livestock, 2) oil and gas, and 3) solid waste. For each of these fellowships, the core objectives will be to generate original research findings on their specific sector; to work with other members of the project team (the PI, project administrator, two PhD researchers, and other research fellows) to compare across sites, scales and sectors; and to explore the broader implications of these sectoral and comparative findings for methane and climate research and practice.

What we offer in return:

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more! 

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact the METH-POL project team at: methpol@leeds.ac.uk

While this advert is specifically for the Global Methane Politics fellowship on Oil and Gas, those interested in this position are asked to apply via the link for all 3 positions (here). Those interested in more than one of the Global Methane Politics fellowship positions are requested to only make one application: multiple applications are not required.

Applications should be accompanied by a cover letter, which should set out 1) which of the 3 research fellow positions you wish to be considered for (or whether you wish to be considered for all 3 positions); and 2) how you would be interested in approaching the study of global methane politics (including how your proposed approach would build upon your own interests, skills and/or experiences). 

Advert information