Postdoctoral Research Associate, Fellow or Senior Research Fellow

University of Exeter Business School
Exeter - United Kingdom
S: Competitive

This full-time post is available on a fixed term basis until September 2025, if you are appointed at Senior Research Fellow the post will end in May 2025.

The starting salary will be £31,411 on Grade E for PDRA, £39,745 on Grade F for PDRF or £47,423 on Grade G for SRF, depending on qualifications and experience.


The post:

The Land, Environment, Economics and Policy (LEEP) Institute at the University of Exeter Business School is a highly interdisciplinary centre bringing together economics, spatial analysis, programming, natural, physical, and social scientists to develop and apply data driven solutions to the major environmental, economic and wellbeing challenges facing humanity.

The LEEP team invite applications for either a Postdoctoral Research Associate/ Postdoctoral Research Fellow/ Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our team. While we are interested in a wide variety of quantitative analysis skills, the ideal candidate would combine spatial analysis with a wide transdisciplinary focus including economics and programming skills. Given the rarity of combining such skills we would strongly encourage applications from those with just some of these skills but an interest in interdisciplinary collaborations.

The post will be based at the LEEP institute and is available immediately to support the work of Professor Ian Bateman and Dr. Mattia Mancini (LEEP) in coordination with Prof. Rod Wilson (Exeter Biosciences) and Dr. Yiorgos Gadanakis (School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading).

The successful applicant will use, develop, and integrate in-house and external spatial and economic modelling tools to undertake analysis of the consequences of the wider land use change associated with the introduction of new agricultural production technology the UK. The main focus of this work will be to understand how the adoption of this technology allows land use to change altering a range of environmental benefits including greenhouse gas storage, biodiversity gains, water quality and flooding improvements and recreation benefits. As part of this the postholder will work with agricultural economics experts who will assess the most likely locations for new technology adoption. However the main duties of the postholder will then be:

- To assess how new agricultural technologies directly affect the environmental characteristics on and beyond farms. For example, how a shift from conventional livestock farming to new food production systems, such as land-based aquaculture (no specialist knowledge of either systems is required) alters the greenhouse gas emission profiles of farms or frees-up land for biodiversity habitat.
- To use and adapt existing spatial models of land use and its outputs and values to investigate there environmental impacts arising from change in land use.
- To assist in the design of spatial land use optimisation for multiple societal goals (e.g. maintaining adequate food production while decreasing its carbon footprint).
- To collaborate and lead on academic papers for publication in the very best international peer-reviewed journals in the world.


About you:

The successful applicant has a strong quantitative background ideally including some combination of spatial analysis skills, economic analysis and programming.

They will be able to contribute to collaborative research within the LEEP team, develop research objectives, present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate information orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies. Successful applicants will work with a large interdisciplinary team to meet project objectives.

Applicants will possess a PhD (or be nearing completion) in a discipline with strong quantitative focus, ideally in Environmental Economics, Geography, Environmental Sciences or related disciplines. The successful applicant will ideally possess the following skills:

- Spatial economic modelling and valuation, with a focus on land use change
- GIS, mapping, spatial data analysis and visualisation
- Spatial optimisation techniques
- Programming (Matlab, R and SQL, Python/Julia)


Main duties and accountabilities:

To undertake research as appropriate to the field of study. The responsibilities may include all or some of the following:

- Collaborating on the development of research objectives as well as future projects and proposals;
- Extending, transforming and applying knowledge acquired from scholarship to research and appropriate external activities;
- Writing or contributing to publications or disseminating research findings using media appropriate to the discipline;
- Making presentations at conferences or exhibiting work in other appropriate events;
- Assessing, interpreting and evaluating outcomes of research;
- Developing new concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding;
- Resolving problems of meeting research objectives and deadlines;
- Developing ideas for application of research outcomes;
- To communicate ideas to research impact partners, for example in government and industry

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role at each level.

If you have a preference for a particular level of appointment please state it in your cover letter.


What we can offer you:

- A superb career development opportunity working in an exciting and highly interdisciplinary team working at the leading edge of research addressing the major environmental and related economic challenges to humanity in the 21st Century;
- Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
- An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
- Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
- A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits including maternity leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy http://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/employment/parents
- A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon


Further Information:

For further information please contact Mattia Mancini m.c.mancini@exeter.ac.uk, or Ian Bateman I.Bateman@exeter.ac.uk.


The University of Exeter:

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022).

Our research income in recent years means we're the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world's most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. More than 99% of our research is of international quality and our world-leading research impact is growing faster than any other Russell Group university (2021 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a?UNESCO Creative City.


Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment:

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Job summary