Research Associate in Systems Thinking: The social, health and environmental co-impacts of Glasgow’s Just Transition to Net Zero

COLLEGE: Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences

SCHOOL/INSTITUTE: School of Health and Wellbeing

Research Associate in Systems Thinking: The social, health and environmental co-impacts of Glasgow’s Just Transition to Net Zero

GRADE 7

We are looking for an enthusiastic social science, environmental science or public health researcher with relevant experience to join our large-scale interdisciplinary research programme as a maternity cover and take forward this exciting work.

The candidate will have a strong interest in climate change, inequalities and social justice and will develop relevant research to deliver climate solutions that help to eliminate social and economic inequities. The post holder is expected to work collaboratively with other researchers across the GALLANT programme to deliver the overarching objectives and therefore it is essential that the post-holder has a proven track record in interdisciplinary settings. Experience in engaging with local, national or international stakeholders and/or co-production with policy makers is also essential.

This maternity cover post is one of several postdoctoral positions in Workstrand 1 (Systems Transformation) of the £10.2 Million NERC-funded GALLANT programme, and the postholder will also be part of the Social and Public Health Science Unit’s systems science team led by Prof Petra Meier.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Perform the following activities:

1. Undertake research to understand the potential impacts of GALLANT’s proposed environmental solutions on social, health and wellbeing outcomes, including inequalities.

2. Contribute to the programme’s applied and methodological research into the links between changing environmental, social and economic systems.

3. Identify, assess utility and collate indicators for monitoring and evaluation of progress against the Thriving Definitions.

4. Produce research outputs that support policy decision making.

5. Lead and contribute to journal publications and other scientific outputs.

6. Contribute to research funding applications.

7. Plan and conduct research individually or in a team in accordance with agreed

deliverables.

8. Develop a thorough understanding of the relevant topic-specific and methodological research literature and use this to inform your work.

9. Develop and maintain strong relationships with relevant individuals, organisations and stakeholder networks for stakeholder co-production, future research collaborations and dissemination of our research.

10. Present work at national and international conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and stakeholder-facing workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

11. Develop and enhance your own research profile and reputation and that of the research group and the wider university, including focusing on research impact in terms of societal and economic benefit.

12. Organise and participate in internal as well as externally facing meetings, events, and seminars/workshops.

13. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

14. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

15. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Line Manager

16. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

Qualifications

Essential:

A1 SCQF Level 10 [Honours degree] in a relevant discipline, or equivalent

A2 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) in social science, environmental science, public health, or related fields, or alternatively possess the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience, with experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s)

Knowledge

Essential:

B1 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions related to research in social justice/inequality and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Desirable:

C1 A track record in social or socio-ecological systems research

C2 Theoretical and practical knowledge of “soft systems” methodologies (e.g. participatory group modelling, case based complexity, theory of change or future analysis methods)

Skills

Essential:

D1 Research creativity and cross-discipline collaborative ability

D2 Excellent, confident communication skills (oral and written), including report writing, briefings, presentations and ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely

to diverse audiences

D3 Highly developed organisation and dissemination skill, e.g. planning of dissemination events, commissioning visualisation

D Excellent interpersonal skills including working with stakeholders and colleagues from different thought traditions

D5 Well-developed workload/time/project/people management skills

D6 Basic quantitative data analysis/interpretation skills (e.g. analysing trends, drawing graphs)

D7 Ability to quickly grasp complex concepts and situations

D8 Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach

Experience

Essential:

E1 Sufficient depth of relevant experience appropriate to the grade applied for

E2 Experience of scientific writing, including an emerging track record of published articles in quality journals in a relevant field

E3 Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner

E4 Ability to demonstrate research independence in terms of the design, conduct and dissemination of stand-alone parts of larger research projects

E5 Ability to demonstrate experience of effective team work.

E6 Experience of working with policy stakeholders, in particular using system transformation, participatory mapping or theory of change-type methods

Desirable

F1 Significant experience of accessing, assembling and analysing datasets

F2 Experience of presenting research results at scientific conferences and stakeholder events relevant to the Programme’s research areas

F3 Experience of contributing to applications for grant income

F4 Prior experience of working in interdisciplinary teams, especially those spanning environmental, social, health and/or economic sciences.

F5 Experience of contributing to literature reviews

Please note that as part of your application you must address and demonstrate how you meet EACH of the essential and desirable criteria.

Additional information

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you want your knowledge of environmental, social and/or public health science to impact on one of the biggest challenges we face? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities?

The climate emergency means we must transform our cities to support nature, whilst alleviating deep-rooted social, health and economic inequalities. Frameworks such as Doughnut Economics are useful in helping us think holistically about the interconnectedness between the ecological and social conditions required for human thriving and leave no-one in doubt about the urgency to provide a fully joined-up response.

We have secured major funding from NERC for a 5-year transdisciplinary programme of research that is designing and implementing action on the ground to transition the environmental, social, and economic dynamics of one of the UK’s largest cities and surroundings. Called GALLANT (Delivering a Climate Resilient City through City-University Partnership: Glasgow as a Living Lab Accelerating Novel Transformation) we aim to develop whole-systems solutions for a just and sustainable transition delivered at the city scale. This

brings together the University with the City Council and a range of private partners, and links globally through the C40 partnership.

Emphasising the importance of a joined-up response, GALLANT has a central, cross-cutting workstream focussed on Systems Transformation. This workstream engages with policy actors and stakeholders across relevant sectors of policy, society and business, and uses systems methodologies to support these stakeholders in engaging with the complexity of the challenge to co-create solutions. As a result of a year-long engagement process to develop a Thriving Cities Portrait, Glasgow City Council has adopted a set of ambitious Thriving Definitions to guide council activities. The next step of the process will be to continue the engagement with researchers and stakeholders to develop theories of change, map ambitions to policy levers, strategies and changemakers and scientifically evaluate both change processes and progress made

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £39,347 – £44,263 per annum.

This post is to cover maternity leave for up to 12 months or until the substantive postholder returns.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension – pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.