Social Scientist - Environmental Behaviour

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

We are seeking a social scientist to join our team working on environment-related behaviour in Scotland and more widely. The remit of this post is to provide leadership in research on sustainable behaviour and behaviour change, as well as leading bids for external funding.

Applicants must have a PhD or be nearing completion in a relevant subject (such as environmental or social psychology, human geography, economics or sociology), expertise in a specific topic (such as energy, food, land management or transport), and the ability and interest to oversee research on a wider range of topics. Applicants should be familiar with and experienced in quantitative methods, ideally with an interest in experimental, mixed-methods or qualitative research approaches.

Appointment with excellent employee benefits will be made within Band E (£33,780 - £37,534) or Band F (£42,769 - £47,521) according to experience and expertise, but could also be made within Band D with a correspondingly lower level of responsibilities (starting salary range £26,610 –£29,566 per annum).

This role will be based in Aberdeen.

Main purpose of the job

Working within the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group and across several Research Themes, the postholder will contribute to our ongoing and well-established research on environment-related behaviours. Parts of the work will be structured around the 2011-2016 Scottish Government research programme but will also connect to a wider range of research at UK, European and global levels. The postholder will be expected to provide leadership in research on sustainable and low carbon behaviour and behaviour change, as well as leading bids for external funding.

Main duties of the postholder

The post would contribute to the Themes Nurturing Vibrant and Low Carbon Communities, Managing Catchments and Coasts and/or Realising Land’s Potential and the postholder would be expected to initiate, lead and conduct research on topics such as:

• Behaviour change for a sustainable low carbon future
• Sustainable energy and water systems, for example, the implementation and uptake of water policies and diffuse pollution measures, and incentives for rural and urban communities to help manage water quality, quantity and usage
• Land-managers’ decision making and uptake of agricultural and environmental policies.

More generally, the postholder would participate in:

• Team-work within the suite of ongoing work on environmental behaviour and behaviour change in the institute and across scientific disciplines
• Developing and applying techniques for data collection and analysis
• Writing or contributing to writing papers suitable for appropriate international journals and conferences
• Contributing to relevant knowledge transfer activities to stakeholders
• Preparing (and assisting in preparing) research proposals to appropriate funding sources for further work.

Academic requirements

• For Band D: applicants must have a PhD in a relevant subject (or be nearing completion).
• For Band E: applicants must have a PhD in a relevant subject and several years of postdoctoral research experience.
• For Band F: substantial postdoctoral research experience.
• Relevant subjects: environmental or social psychology, social geography, economics or sociology.

Experience required

Essential:

• Experience of working effectively in a (multidisciplinary) team.
• Familiarity with the literature on environmentally relevant behaviour, decision making and behaviour change.
• Expertise in a specific topic (such as energy, food, land management or transport), and interest in research on a wider range of topics.
• Experience in quantitative methods for data collection and analysis.

Desirable:

• Interest and/or experience in qualitative, mixed method and/or experimental approaches.

Skills required

Essential:

• For Band D: applicants must show evidence of potential ability to produce good refereed journal papers and generate income.
• For Band E/F: applicants must have sufficiently proven their ability to produce good refereed journal papers and generate income.
• Ability to plan research, and to carry through plans
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in relation to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Ability to grasp and criticise complex ideas.
• Ability to relate theoretical concepts to real-world problems and vice-versa.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with relevant statistical approaches (such as GL(M)M or structural equation modelling) and software (such as SPSS or R).
• For Band F: Ability to lead research teams
• Proven ability to interact effectively with stakeholders and research funding organisations.

Other specific requirements

• Occasional periods away (for example, collecting field data, attending conferences or international meetings, etc.).
• Interest in interdisciplinary work.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Thoroughness and attention to detail.
• Enthusiasm for topic area.
• Driving licence applicable in the UK.