Research Fellow in Climate Action (0.6FTE)

Queen's University Belfast

QUB’s Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action (SECA) seeks to recruit a highly motivated and experienced postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to ‘Goals for Climate’, a new partnership between Queen’s University Belfast, Groundwork NI, and the IFA Foundation. Funded by a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Research Fellow will play an invaluable role within the ‘Goals for Climate’ project, collaborating with project partners to undertake participatory action research (PAR).

Working closely with the PI, the Research Fellow will play a central role in research design and implementation, conducting research, analysing data and sharing learning from the project. As such, the Research Fellow should have mixed methods research experience, particularly in conducting interviews and surveys; experience in facilitating PAR and focus groups is also desirable.

In tandem with social science research experience, the Research Fellow must have an applied background in community work and education in order to contribute fully to the developmental aspects of this PAR project. Such practical experience, along with excellent interpersonal skills, are essential for building collaborative relationships and networks with project partners to achieve project aims. The Research Fellow will also be required to contribute to knowledge dissemination and should have experience of research communication using a variety of mechanisms (public talks, workshops with stakeholders, social media, plain English articles, academic publications, etc.).

About the person:

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria, including the following:

• Normally have or be about to obtain a PhD in a relevant social science discipline, such as sociology or politics
• Relevant experience to include:
  • Social Science research, with: experience of conducting mixed methods/ qualitative primary data collection; secondary data synthesis; and relevant qualitative analysis skills.
  • Practical experience in community work.
  • Experience as an educator (in formal/ non-formal/ informal settings).
  • Working effectively as part of a research team in the development and promotion of the research theme.
• Experience of knowledge and research dissemination using various mechanisms (talks, workshops, social media, plain English articles, academic publications, etc.).

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information on our website.

This post is available for 20 months or until 23 February 2028, whichever is soonest. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.