Brighton (Remote possible) and Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK
Hours
Full time considered up to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week. Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).
Grade 7 starting at £38,249 to £45,413 per annum, pro rata if part time.
Contract Type
Fixed Term Contract
About the role
As a research fellow, you will be working on an ESRC-funded research project analysing the growth in carbon plantations, afforestation and farmland investments in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
The research will explore the impact of carbon and reforestation policies on farming landscapes and the forms of forestry emerging through private sector involvement. The findings will be used to develop policy advice and provide the basis for long-term strategies on carbon offsetting, land restoration and food systems in the UK and beyond.
While you will be joining a small team led by Dr Will Lock, you will also have the freedom to conduct your own ethnographic fieldwork, interviewing farmers and community members surrounding Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire. You will be supported through fieldwork and will have a period of preparation and analysis before and after the research.
The role will entail:
* Planning fieldwork, under the guidance and with the contacts of the Principal Investigator (PI).
* Conducting interviews and exploring life stories of those impacted by forestry past, present and future.
* Visiting carbon plantations and afforestation projects to understand their form, diversity and aesthetics.
* Hosting participatory research sessions or events with communities, alongside the PI.
* Assisting in analysing this material.
* The option to collaborate on a journal paper.
About you
Ideally, you will have, or be about to obtain, a PhD in a relevant field (such as, but not limited to, anthropology, sociology, geography or development studies), or have an appropriate level of experience in farming, forestry or land-use research. You should also have the skills to manage your own workload and work independently, while feeding into and collaborating with a team.
You will have some experience of qualitative research, ideally ethnographic, and the confidence to reach out and speak to a wide range of different actors. A keen interest in debates around land use, forestry, food systems and climate change –and an appreciation for the Welsh cultural context–is also critical. A working knowledge of the Welsh language is not essential but would be highly beneficial.
About our Division/School
We are a global hub at the heart of Sussex University. Our engaged research and critical pedagogy addresses the most pressing global issues of our times – global social justice, environmental change and climate justice, war and peace, migration, global health, human rights, identity, and inequality. Our mission is to generate transformative research and real-world teaching that equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to work towards a fairer, safer, more sustainable and more inclusive world.
We are committed to inspiring and curiosity-driven teaching and research that strives to find creative solutions for the social, environmental, economic and political poly-crisis facing the world today. Global Studies stands out for its interdisciplinarity across our departments, courses and research centres; our ambitious global outlook; and our decolonising, anti-racist and reparative justice approaches to teaching, research and civic engagement.
Please find further information regarding the School of Global Studies .
Why work here
Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.
Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.
Please contact Dr Will Lock, W.Lock@Sussex.ac.uk for informal enquiries. We welcome enquiries regarding workplace and role adjustments.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code, and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship.
If you are experiencing any issues using our application portal or if you require adjustments to be made to the selection process, please contact us on (01273) 873743 or recruitmentadministration@sussex.ac.uk to discuss your requirements.
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