Research Fellow

Salary:  Competitive starting salary range from £38,249 up to £41,671 per annum (dependent upon experience) with the potential to progress. A discretionary range for candidates with exceptional experience can be discussed/considered

Mode: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract, Full Time 

Our Mission

Coventry University is a global Education Group that empowers students and communities to transform their lives and society through teaching, learning, research, and enterprise.

An ambitious and innovative university, our research is designed to have real-world impact on society and tackle global challenges through our challenge-led, interdisciplinary research centres. We enable high performing research teams and future research leaders to thrive and make an impact locally, regionally, nationally, and globally

The Role

As a Research Fellow in the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR), you will undertake research and play a lead role in supporting the scientific delivery of two Horizon Europe projects focused on biodiversity, societal transformation and just environmental futures.

You will contribute to mixed method research that maps public perceptions, emotional and structural barriers to environmental action, and the dynamics shaping community-institution relationships. This will include conducting discourse and media analysis, expert interviews, stakeholder mapping, and/ or participatory workshops; co developing engagement tools that translate social science insights into practical decision support resources; and supporting inclusive governance processes in local place based cases such as Coventry’s urban biodiversity domain. You will help shape creative, culturally grounded engagement strategies, contribute to the design of co creation processes with residents and policy actors, and support the development of early intervention pathways and narrative resources designed to strengthen response ability and collective action.

Working closely with CAWR colleagues and consortium partners across mainland Europe and Latin America, you will also contribute to early work exploring alternative socio economic and governance pathways for biodiversity positive futures. This involves helping to review and synthesise emerging models and best practices, identifying behavioural and institutional barriers to uptake, and contributing to early scenario building and qualitative systems mapping approaches. You will support the preparation of the UK based Transformation Lab, assisting with baseline evidence gathering and early co creation activities, bringing together social science insights that inform collaborative approaches to environmental and societal change.

Qualifications Required

• PhD (or equivalent) or professional experience equivalent to a PhD demonstrating an ability to carry-out independent research with a 1st Class/2.1

• Degree in appropriate subject e.g. Human Geography, Environmental Psychology, Environmental Communication, Political Ecology, Sociology, Political science.

Our Successful Candidate

A highly motivated and experienced Research Fellow with demonstrable expert knowledge and understanding of how societal values, perceptions, narratives and governance structures shape biodiversity related action, and the co-creative research methods used to explore and transform these relationships.  

An Advanced knowledge of research methods and techniques with demonstratable adherence to all regulations is required for this role. You will have the ability to develop research objectives, projects, and proposals for own and joint research.

You will also be Research sufficient to write up research and produce excellent, high-quality publications in high profile peer reviewed journals and present at national/international events. You will be committed to working collaboratively on research development, delivery and dissemination including interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research, public engagement, and knowledge exchange.

The Benefits

As a staff member of Coventry University, you will have access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits including:

•    Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
  •    30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
  •    New Holiday Purchase Scheme 
  •    Life Assurance 4x Salary
  •    BUPA Cash Plan
  •    50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
  •    CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
  •    Cycle To Work scheme

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.

Closing date: Tuesday 5^th May