Postdoctoral Researcher in Livestock Systems

Closing Date: 31st January 2026 at 23:59 (GMT)

Role Type: Full time, fixed term contract - until 31st August 2026

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join an international research project on the sustainability assessment of current and future livestock systems: PATHWAYS (www.pathways-project.com). This 6-month post offers a unique opportunity to work within an experienced and impactful team, collaborating with those promoting innovations in livestock supply chains to delineate and evaluate credible, relevant, and timely approaches for the sustainable development of the livestock sector in Europe.

In this delivery-focused role, you will lead a central project output: synthesising and combining results from existing model-based sustainability assessments (e.g. LCA, spatial and scenario analyses) to identify optimal transition pathways and to set out a forward-looking research agenda for sustainable livestock in Europe. You will also help design and facilitate structured stakeholder/scientific workshops to review and refine these findings.

You will be responsible for integrating and interpreting existing sustainability assessment outputs, and for the analysis and publication of data on innovative livestock practices. Across these activities you will prepare findings for peer-reviewed publication and project deliverables, contribute to future grant applications, and liaise with participants and organisations across the agri-food sector in Europe.

This post is particularly suited to researchers with strong analytical and organisational skills, and a career ambition to develop a profile in applied food systems research. We are particularly seeking to recruit an individual who shares our values of integrating farmers, supply chain actors, NGOs, policymakers, and citizens within the research process to address real-life needs, problems, and opportunities.

Informal discussions are welcome; please contact Principal Investigator Dr Laurence Smith (l.g.smith@reading.ac.uk).

Want to shape the future of sustainable livestock in Europe? Join PATHWAYS and lead a high-profile synthesis that will directly inform transition strategies across the agri-food sector.

You will have:

• A PhD in a discipline related to the project (natural or social sciences with a focus on food and/or agriculture), or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in sustainability assessment and trade-off analysis, and/or structured interviews or workshops with stakeholders
• Previous experience of leading and/or contributing to publications and/or conference presentations

Interview date - w/b 9th February 2026. The interview will include a presentation on “Meeting the requirements of the post and highlights from my research to date”

Informal contact details:

Contact Name: Laurence Smith, Associate Professor in Agricultural Systems, l.g.smith@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Jorge Campos-Gonzalez, Research Fellow, jorge.camposgonzalez@reading.ac.uk

We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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