Postdoctoral Research Associate Renew

This new full time post is available from 1 April 2024 on a fixed term basis until 31 March 2026.  Summary of the role The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Dr Regan Early in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy and Dr John Clarke in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. This NERC-funded post is available for 2 years from 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2026. The successful applicant will undertake inter-disciplinary research encompassing conservation biology, ecology and the arts. The Associate will work within the project “Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach (RENEW)”. This project seeks to develop solutions to one of the major environmental challenges for humankind, the renewal of biodiversity and involves 33 project partners. The programme includes academics and partners across environmental sciences, data science, environmental intelligence, social sciences, politics, humanities, business, and economics. This post will contribute to delivery of Theme 2, focussing on the role of human communities in biodiversity renewal. The post entails analysing the ecological and social value of urban biodiversity. This work will assess the equity of access to such biodiversity and envision strategies to improve these within the UK. The post-holder will also investigate the role of community-led initiatives in urban biodiversity conservation, collaborate with poets to identify sentiments surrounding urban biodiversity in the creative arts, and create novel methods to integrate these into maps of biodiversity value. This research could be undertaken at multiple spatial scales, from local case-studies to UK-wide analysis. The post-holder will also arrange research group meetings and communicate the research group’s findings via our website. We will work with you as far as possible to develop your own interests and support your career development. The post-holder will join the RENEW project community (https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/) and Dr Early’s FABio research group (https://www.fabiogeography.com/), which are thriving, supportive fora for collaboration. About you The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies. Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants should possess experience in one or more of the following areas: Spatial statistics Biogeography Landscape ecology or connectivity analysis Population modelling GIS Conservation planning Applicants should possess an interest or experience (including lived or informal experience) in one or more of the following areas: Developing research questions and working with human communities, including individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, political, socio-economic, religious and demographic backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community and Disabled people. Involvement of under-represented groups in biodiversity / environmental activities, or in any community-led initiatives. Contemporary poetry, poetics, classics, creative writing, critical analysis of text, or other elements of the creative arts. Inter-disciplinary research Urban ecology On-the-ground conservation efforts, for example habitat management, volunteering, data collection, etc... Experience engaging non-scientists in scientific research or ecology. Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role. Further information Please contact Dr Regan Early, e-mail r.early@exeter.ac.uk. Interviews are expected to take place on 27 February.