Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Evaluation Lead

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a progressive and impactful research network (Network Plus) that aims to support a more sustainable and responsible fashion and textiles industry. Situated in Britain’s beautiful Ocean City, Plymouth, this post will work across disciplines, research institutes, and industry to help embed a range of key disciplines, including social and environmental sciences, to facilitate a paradigm shift in the UK’s fashion and textiles sector.
Your role will be to use social science to help answer questions that need to be answered in order to see a more sustainable fashion industry. For example, whose decisions and behaviours need to be understood, what are their current perceptions and motives for existing practices, what do they need in order to shift towards more sustainable practices?
This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis until October 2025 due to funding.
You will be based in the state-of-the-art School of Psychology as well as the award-winning interdisciplinary International Marine Litter Research Unit. Working with Dr Kayleigh Wyles (School of Psychology), Professor Richard Thompson (School of Biological and Marine Sciences) and other post-doctorates on the project, your post will undertake social science research and be the Evaluation Lead for the network. This will involve mapping the different stakeholders and activities proposed by the network, developing an evaluation strategy (i.e., social science methods to assess baseline and change in perceptions and behaviours), as well as supporting partners in implementing the strategy. In addition, the post will lead on data collection (i.e., collecting stakeholders’ views before, during and after events, analysing the data and writing up the results as journal articles and reports).
• Info regarding the team in which this post sits
• Info regarding the purpose of the role
• Further specifics regarding the type of work the person will be doing
You must have a PhD in the social sciences, or have equivalent research experience and knowledge. Candidates from a natural sciences background are encouraged to apply if they can demonstrate experience of conducting research with people. You will have knowledge of behaviour change principles as well as social science evaluation methods. You will have experience of designing and implementing qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., interviews, questionnaires and/or observations tools) that capture perceptions and/or behaviours of a range of social groups, analysing and writing up results. You will have professional / academic level English language skills, both verbal and written, including a proven record of quality research publications, at least, 2-3* with respect to the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Research Excellence Framework (REF). Publications in the domain of social and behavioural sciences are especially desirable.
Due to the nature of the project, we expect experience in or openness to working across disciplines, sectors, and cultures, with excellent interpersonal skills. You must also have very good organisational and time management skills with meticulous attention to detail. In addition, you must have successful team leadership skills with the ability to work well within a team.
You will already be operating as a member of a management team.
Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Dr. Kayleigh Wyles and Professor Richard Thompson by email (Kayleigh.Wyles@plymouth.ac.uk and R.C.Thompson@plymouth.ac.uk)
Interviews are likely to take place on Thursday 1st February 2024 and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.
We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.