Research Fellow in Agri-Environmental Science and Policy - Edinburgh

Title: Research Fellow in Agri-Environmental Science and Policy

Type: Full time / Permanent

Salary: £39,977 - £43,731 per annum

Location: SRUC, Kings Building, Edinburgh

REF: ACF/REES/011/23

SRUC is unique in Scotland and one of the largest organisations of its kind in Europe. Our ambitious and exciting vision is to work at local, national and international levels, leading innovation and sustainable development in agriculture and rural sectors.

The Rural Economy, Environment and Society (REES) is looking to recruit a Research Fellow in Agri-environmental Science and Policy to complement the skills and expertise of current staff and to help deliver our current and planned research activities.

The expansion of agriculture has massively altered land use, nutrient cycles and related ecosystem services and as a result provides benefits in terms of food production while putting multiple pressures on the environment. One of the grand challenges facing society is reducing the negative environmental impacts of land use and food production, while continuing to feed a growing population. This necessitates interdisciplinary research across temporal and spatial scales, serving a range of policy goals and exploring the trade-offs and unintended consequences. The initial research focus will be on peatland restoration, which could play a vital role in climate change mitigation and has thus attracted much policy interest and funding. There is a need to understand how restoration can be most cost effectively achieved, taking the wider impacts of restoration on ecosystem services and rural communities into account.

We are seeking to appoint an individual who will be able to design and carry out research on the environmental impacts of land use and agricultural production in the UK and beyond. The emphasis will be on research to support policy making, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use and in food supply chains.

Your main role will be to support our research on climate change mitigation and the wider sustainability of agri-environmental systems, land use and food supply chains. You will develop and use interdisciplinary approaches that integrate natural, agricultural, economic and social aspects of food systems. Approximately half of your time will be devoted to investigating the cost-effectiveness of peatland and wetland restoration as part of the Wet Horizons project (https://www.wethorizons.eu/ ).

In this role you will have opportunities to lead research and to contribute to relevant undergraduate and graduate level teaching programmes that are delivered by SRUC in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, as well as SRUC’s Doctoral College.

Further Details

For further information please contact: Dr Michael MacLeod. michael.macleod@sruc.ac.uk

Application Process

In order to submit a completed application for this role, all candidates must:

• Complete the online application form.
• Attach a completed CV that is tailored to the specific requirements of the role.
• Provide three references.

For further information and to apply, please visit: www.sruc.ac.uk/jobs

Anticipated Timeline

Closing date: June 5th 2023

Anticipated Interview Dates: 19th or 20th June 2023

Desired Start Date: 14th August 2023

Latest Acceptable Start Date: 31st October 2023

Interview presentation

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to give a 5 minute presentation during the interview explaining one of the main barriers to peatland rewetting and restoration in the UK and the role that research could play in overcoming it.

What you will get in return

• Enhanced holidays
• Enhanced pension contributions
• Cycle to work scheme
• RAC Membership
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working patterns
• Hybrid working solutions (in some areas)
• Tailored investment in and individuals' learning and development

Further details on the requirements of this role can be found in the Job Particulars document which you must read before applying for this role.

Please note that CVs will not be accepted without a completed application form.

Further information

Please read the Job Particulars document before proceeding with your application.

Apply

To apply for this role, please use the SRUC online application system. CVs will not be accepted without a completed application form.