UE07: £41,064.00 - £48,822.00 Per Annum Pro Rata (Successful candidate will be appointed to Step 1 of the Grade Scale - £22.50 per hour).
Edinburgh Earth Initiative, Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
Part Time - 9 hours per week.
Fixed-term for nine months from September 2026.
The Edinburgh Earth Initiative (EEI), Software Sustainability Institute and School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences are looking for a PhD student to support with establishing a qualitative evidence base documenting everyday experiences of air quality changes. This 9-month project will focus on developing the methodology for data collection, collecting air quality narratives and identifying themes. The resulting database will be used for public engagement with the topic of air quality.
Click here to view the full project brief for the Earth Fellow: air quality chronicles, including key tasks and deliverables (opens browser in new tab).
Click here to view the general Earth Fellow job description (opens browser in new tab).
Please refer to the project brief and the skills listed below when outlining your skills and experience in your application.
This post will be appointed at Grade UE07, step 1 which is £41,064 per annum, pro rata (£22.50 per hour).
Earth Fellowships are only open to current postgraduate and PhD students at the University of Edinburgh based in the UK. Please do not apply if you will not be an on-campus University of Edinburgh student in the ‘26/’27 academic year.
Your skills and attributes for success:
• Current University of Edinburgh PhD student in the ‘26/’27 academic year.
• An interest in climate and environment topics and everyday experiences of our environment.
• An interest in history, particularly in relation to everyday and community experience.
• An interest in communicating research to non-specialist audiences, and openness to exploring public engagement formats beyond academic writing.
• Experience with qualitative research methods such as thematic coding and discourse analysis.
• Ability to collaboratively design protocols for data collection.
• Ability to assimilate information from multiple sources and report on it effectively.
• Comfort with organising and managing information systematically, and a willingness to learn approaches to qualitative data management.
• Ability to work proactively with colleagues and external collaborators with a variety of expertise; understanding and valuing different points of view with cultural sensitivity.
As an Earth Fellow, you will be joining a diverse, fun and dynamic team of researchers, students and staff all working together to address the global climate emergency. As part of the Earth Fellows programme, you will have access to co-working space, exciting networking and personal development opportunities and opportunities to contribute towards partnerships and solutions for climate change on a global scale.
Earth Fellows work on individual and team-based projects which contribute to the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Earth Initiative’s work on climate change research-led impact, innovation, engagement, and teaching.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A competitive salary.
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits pageand use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 28 July 2026.
Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.
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Earth Fellow: air quality chronicles in Edinburgh employer: University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises equality, diversity, and inclusion. With over 400 years of history, it provides unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive community of more than 17,000 staff and 50,000 students. As a leading research-intensive university, it empowers its employees to drive organisational transformation and innovate in a dynamic environment, making it a truly rewarding place to work.
