Assistant Professor in Environment & Society

Heriot-Watt University has been awarded a significant philanthropic gift to set up the Hoogenboom Scholarship programme which will fund 30 women from Africa to study for Masters courses that will provide them with the skills and knowledge to tackle environmental challenges confronting their home nations. The programme will run for five years (September 2026 onwards) and the Lyell Centre for Earth & Marine Science & Technology is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the programme.

Students applying for this scholarship can choose from the following MSc courses: Global Environmental Change & Policy, Sustainable Geoenergy, International Marine Science. We wish to recruit an academic to join The Lyell Centre with research interests that can cut across our research themes and those of the wider University. You will be a social scientist with demonstrable experience of applying your research in community settings internationally particularly in developing countries or low medium income countries. The Lyell Centre focuses both on the Earth and marine domains hence candidates that can apply their research in both contexts will be preferred.

We are a multidisciplinary research‑intensive Global Research Institute with extensive collaborations across the entire University and internationally. We welcome individuals who are demonstrably collaborative based on research track‑record to date. You will be expected to contribute to the teaching of the Global Environmental Change & Policy MSc programme and to develop a parallel programme of enhancement training and development for the Hoogenboom scholars. Your main administrative function will be to ensure the smooth running and onboarding of students enrolling on the Hoogenboom scholarship programme, providing students with a first point of contact as students navigate their way on their scholarship journey. The successful candidate is expected to commence no later than 1 September 2026. The post is based at our Edinburgh UK campus, and we expect colleagues to be on campus in person a minimum of three days per week on average (pro rata if in a job share).

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• To ensure the smooth running and operation of the Hoogenboom scholarship programme working collaboratively with professional support teams.
• Contribute to teaching on the GECP MSc programme and develop enhancement training for the Hoogenboom scholars.
• Engage in individual and collaborative research, which aligns to the strategic direction of the University, establish a distinctive programme of research and disseminate results through regular publication in high impact journals, books and conference proceedings.
• Identify appropriate sources of funding, prepare research proposals for funding bodies and manage grants awarded.
• Supervise research students and staff as required, providing direction, support and guidance.
• Design, teach and assess a range of teaching and learning, supervision and assessment activities across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including online/digital programmes where required.
• Contribute to curriculum review and enhancement, in a manner that supports a research‑led approach to student learning.
• Participate in the Schools international engagement activities as required e.g delivering teaching, contributing to joint programmes and recruitment of students.
• Participate in, and develop, networks and collaborations both internally and externally to the Division/School/University.
• Participate in the administrative processes of the Division/School/University including committee membership, quality assurance procedures and recruitment and admission of students.
• Evidence of successful co‑ordination, support, supervision, management and/or mentoring of research students and staff.
• Evidence of developing effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance to enhance the student experience.

Education, Qualifications & Experience

Essential Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant topic fitting within the environment and society theme.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Established track record of high quality published research in field appropriate journals.
• Postdoctoral experience working in community settings.
• Field work experience and experience working in an international context.
• A record of involvement in applications for external funding for research and/or knowledge transfer.
• Experience of supervising dissertation projects across the range of undergraduate/postgraduate and of supervising doctoral students.
• Able to show an empathetic and supportive approach to students.
• Experience of providing high quality teaching across a range of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level preferably including online/digital programmes.
• Experience of designing and delivering course modules.
• Evidence of successful co‑ordination, support, supervision, management and/or mentoring of others.

Desirable Qualifications

• Higher Education teaching qualification or equivalent e.g. PGCert and/or holding an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and be working towards Fellowship.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Evidence of collaborative research with other institutions and interdisciplinary work.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of effective approaches to teaching and learning support as a key contribution to high quality student learning.
• Evidence of programme innovation and development.
• Evidence or knowledge to support international activities.
• Evidence or knowledge of the Higher Education context and regulatory framework.
• Experience in lecturing in an academic role.
• Multi‑lingual.
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot‑Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups.

For more information, please see our website here and also our award‑winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers here. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part‑time working and job share options.

Contact For information please either contact Professor Michel Kaiser (m.kaiser@hw.ac.uk) co‑Director of the Lyell Centre or Dr Ingrid Kelling (i.kelling@hw.ac.uk) programme leader of GECP MSc.