‘ScotLuxSplash’ Social Science Post-Doctoral Researcher in Aberdeen

The Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) department contains a range of researchers, using a range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods and often taking interdisciplinary and/or participatory perspectives. We seek to address major contemporary social and economic research challenges, including investigations of sustainable behaviours, place-based policy, natural resource governance, climate change, land use, natural capital and ecosystem services valuation, community vibrancy, and sustainability transitions. We offer a friendly and supportive working environment, with a good range of employee benefits, professional development opportunities and flexible work options.

Main Purpose of Job

We are seeking to appoint a postdoctoral researcher to support Kerry Waylen in delivery of our new project ‘ScotLuxSplash’. This exciting new UKRI-funded project will explore how to strengthen connections between citizen scientists and policy makers, tracing how their knowledges can be used in catchment governance processes, in both Scotland and Luxembourg. The researcher will be given the opportunity to develop their skills in collaboration with colleagues in both countries. This is the ideal opportunity for a researcher working in the environmental social sciences who wants to connect conceptual insights with real-world practices. This is a fixed term contract of 3.5 years, starting any time between January and March 2027. The postholder’s main work location will be in Aberdeen. This post is advertised across level 4/5, with the duties varied accordingly.

Main Duties of Postholder at level 4

• Contribute to research project design, management, reporting, administration, and data management and archiving.
• Participate in collaborative teamwork for delivery of ScotLuxSplash.
• Undertake social science data collection, management, and analysis using appropriate techniques and software.
• Support strong relationship-building with project partners and stakeholders, ranging from citizen scientists through to policy-makers.
• Support a variety of written, visual and oral outputs suitable for communication with a variety of audiences.
• Lead and co-develop article submissions for peer reviewed journals.
• Contribute to the smooth running of an applied interdisciplinary social science department.

Main Duties of Postholder at level 5

• Contribute to research project design, management, reporting, administration, and data management and archiving.
• Participate in collaborative teamwork for delivery of ScotLuxSplash.
• Provide significant subject and methodological expertise relevant to ScotLuxSplash.
• Undertake independent social science data collection, management, and analysis using appropriate techniques and software.
• Create and maintain strong relationships with project partners and stakeholders, ranging from citizen scientists through to policy-makers.
• Lead, as well as support, a variety of written, visual and oral outputs suitable for communication with a variety of audiences.
• Lead and co-develop article submissions for peer reviewed journals.
• Take on citizenship roles that support colleagues and the smooth running of an applied interdisciplinary social science department.

Person Specification

There is scope to appoint across levels, according to the relevant experience and skills of the candidate: essential/desirable skills vary according to whether level 4 or level 5.

Education/Experience/Skills for appointment at level 4

• Essential: PhD in a relevant social science discipline or interdisciplinary PhD with a strong social science component (viva must be completed by interview date).
• Potential to publish high quality, peer reviewed journal articles relevant to environmental social science.
• Experience in independently collecting and analysing qualitative research data, e.g. via interviews and workshops.
• Interest in citizen science, science-policy interfaces, catchment governance processes; framed by concepts like post-normal science or sustainability transformations.
• Ability to create accessible, topical materials for non-academic stakeholders.
• Strong oral communication skills.
• Experience of working with non-academic stakeholders related to environmental governance.
• Strong team working skills.
• Effective organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to travel for fieldwork and knowledge exchange, including abroad.
• Interest in the mission of the department and wider institute.

Desirable

• Track record of publication in academic journals on environmental social science topics.
• Experience of developing and using visual or video communication products such as infographics, and/or of using online materials and social media.
• Experience of working on environmental governance processes in Scotland.
• Experience in working with one or ideally more of concepts and topics related to ScotLuxSplash; citizen science, science-policy interfaces, catchment governance processes; post-normal science and/or sustainability transformations.
• Experience of mixed methods research; and/or interpreting environmental data.
• An interest in working with other scientists beyond the social sciences (e.g. computational sciences, ecological sciences, etc.).
• An awareness of open science, and an interest in data archiving and applying open science principles within the social sciences.
• A driving licence valid in the UK.

Education/Experience/Skills for appointment at level 5

• Essential: A fully completed PhD in a relevant social science discipline, or interdisciplinary PhD with a strong social science component and other social research experience.
• Track record of publishing high quality, peer reviewed journal articles in the environmental social sciences.
• Experience in collecting, analysing and reporting qualitative research data e.g. via interviews and workshops.
• Expertise in one or ideally more of concepts and topics relevant to ScotLuxSplash: citizen science, science-policy interfaces, catchment governance processes; framed by concepts like post-normal science or sustainability transformations.
• Ability to create accessible, topical materials for non-academic stakeholders.
• Strong oral communication skills.
• Experience of building relationships with multiple academic and non-academic stakeholder groups in roles related to environmental governance, ranging from local community members to policy makers.
• Strong team working skills.
• Effective organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to travel for fieldwork and knowledge exchange, including abroad.
• Interest in the mission of the department and wider institute.

Desirable

• Experience of developing and using visual or video communication products such as infographics, and/or of using online materials and social media.
• Experience of working on environmental governance processes in Scotland.
• Experience in Social Network Analysis.
• Experience in designing and implementing mixed methods research; and/or interpreting ecological or hydrological data.
• An interest in working with other scientists beyond the social sciences (e.g. computational sciences, hydrological or ecological sciences).
• An awareness of open science, and experience of data archiving and applying open science principles within the social sciences.
• Experience in applying for research funding.
• A driving licence valid in the UK.

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position. The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The Company

The James Hutton Institute combines strengths in crops, soils and land use and environmental research, and makes a major contribution to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and environmental security, and developing and promoting effective technological and management solutions to these.

Our Values

• We respect and value our people and the people we engage with.
• We want to make a difference.
• We strive to be excellent in everything we do.
• We lead by example.
• We foster creativity and innovation.