Postdoctoral Researcher in Political Ecology at

20 Oct 2023
Job Information
Organisation/Company
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Department
Political and Social Sciences
Research Field
Political sciences
Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country
Spain
Application Deadline
15 Nov 2023 – 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)
Type of Contract
Temporary
Job Status
Part-time
Hours Per Week
30
Offer Starting Date
1 Jan 2024
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
European Union / Next Generation EU
Reference Number
CNS
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No

Offer Description

Job description and tasks

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to work in the project Green Sacrifice in Spain: A European perspective (GRES), funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación) and NextGenerationEU.

The successful applicant will work with Dr. Christos Zografos (PI) and a researcher (with expertise in GIS) to study social conflicts and controversies related to the transition to low-carbon energy systems in Spain. GRES considers the relevance, potential and limits of decolonial theory for understanding conflicts over green infrastructure and sacrifice in locations that have not been historically colonised. The project engages the tension between the fact that decolonisation is not a metaphor to use for studying any injustice at any location, and the presence of logics and rhetoric of 'left behind-ness' and imperial difference mobilised in the expansion of low-carbon energy infrastructure in rural Spain. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct in-depth case study research of conflicts over green infrastructure, such as wind and solar energy farms, electric power transmission infrastructure, and lithium mining in rural Spain. The researcher will analyse political economy dimensions, policy mechanisms, decision-making processes and rhetoric, as well as local experiences of green sacrifice and opposition mobilised in the course of putting into operation just transition infrastructure. The successful applicant will be involved in study design, data collection, and analysis, as well as producing relevant scientific publications and communications of the project and its conclusions for academic (conferences) and non-academic audiences. The postdoctoral researcher will provide support at organising one international scientific and one national stakeholder event for disseminating project results.

Specific Tasks:

• Design case study research for the project, in collaboration with the PI
• Conduct literature reviews, data collection, analysis, and compilation of findings for the case studies
• Generate data management and ethics protocols for empirical studies
• Lead and co-author scientific publications
• Collaborate on the generation of a final report
• Participate in project coordination meetings, and help with project coordination
• Engage in project scientific and public dissemination activities

The Postdoctoral Researcher is expected to be physically based at UPF in Barcelona.

GRES project is funded by the Spanish Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación) and NextGenerationEU. The successful candidate will be located at the Johns Hopkins University – Universitat Pompeu Fabra (JHU-UPF) Public Policy Center, within the Department of Political and Social Sciences of Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain.

Research line of the contract: Environmental Social Science, Political Ecology

Requirements

Research Field
Political sciences
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required qualifications for candidate

• PhD degree in Environmental Social Sciences, Human Geography, Environmental Studies, Political Science, or a related discipline within Social Sciences
• An active research agenda in political ecology, including publications in the field
• Experience in conducting research in the themes of GRES (including low-carbon transition, just transition, renewable energy conflicts, decoloniality)
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative research methods (with an emphasis on in-depth interviews, and direct observation), data collection and analysis
• Proven ability to conduct empirical work in Spanish, including collecting and analysing data
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent academic research and experience of delivering an academic research project to completion
• Experience of collaborating successfully in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural research teams
• Ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously, efficiently and on-time, and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and spoken language skills in English
• Desirable but not compulsory: knowledge of rural Spain and its social, political and historical dynamics

Languages
ENGLISH
Level
Excellent

Languages
SPANISH
Level
Excellent

Research Field
Political sciences

Additional Information
Benefits

Salary/duration/benefits/facilities

This is a part-time post (30 hours/ week) for 18 months, starting 1st January 2024

Salary: 1.974 € gross/month aprox.

The contract includes all the benefits of the Spanish public health and social security system, as well as additional financial support for the participation in project-relevant conferences and scientific meetings.

Additional funds will be provided for conference attendance and fieldwork/ data collection activities.

Eligibility criteria

Selection criteria:

• Disciplinary fit with project: 1-5 points
• Relevant methodological skills: 1-5 points
• Relevant academic and research experience: 1-5 points

The selection committee will consider the possibility of interviewing candidates who pass the minimum score of 4.0 points regarding the criteria above.

Selection committee:

• President:Christos Zografos
• Secretary: Camil Ungureanu
• Member: Isabel Ruiz Mallén

Selection process

Information on the application process

To apply for this position, candidates send the documentation by Interfolio through the following link:

A letter of motivation (max 2 pages) explaining how the candidate fulfills the qualifications mentioned in the job descriptionCandidate CVTwo letters of referenceOne publication (preferably as sole, or first author)A copy of the Phd DiplomaA copy of the candidate's ID card, or passport

Deadline to submit applications: 15/11/2023

Contact:

Information about the selection process:

Website for additional job details

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Department of Political and Social Sciences. Pompeu Fabra University
Country
Spain
State/Province
Barcelona
City
Barcelona
Postal Code
08005
Street
Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27
Geofield

Where to apply

Website

Contact

State/Province
Barcelona
City
Barcelona
Website

Street
Ramon Trias Fargas 25-27
Postal Code
08005
E-Mail

STATUS: EXPIRED

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