New vacancy: Postdoctoral Researcher for the GASCON Project
The School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography
Institute for Science, Innovation and Society (InSIS)
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER FOR THE 'GASCON' PROJECT
Closing Date and Time: 8 October
Grade and Salary: Grade 7 (£32,817 to £40,322 per annum)
Contract Type: Fixed-term (12 months)
Vacancy ID: 147159
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher for the GASCON Project. The project focuses on the policies and politics of Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR).
The large-scale removal of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide removal, is increasingly being discussed as a condition for meeting climate mitigation targets. Recent IPCC assessments, and multilateral commitments to 'net zero' or 'carbon neutrality', rely on the prospect of removing large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The development and eventual adoption of technologies capable of removing greenhouse gases at scale poses, however, a series of complex political, social and ethical questions.
InSIS has a long track record of researching prospective climate engineering technologies and their governance, going back to the pioneering Economic and Social Research Council and Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Climate Geoengineering Programme (CGG), carried out between 2010 and 2014. This position is part of the new GASCON project, which focuses on the policy frameworks required for the responsible evaluation of GGR options in different jurisdictions. This research position is funded by a grant from the ClimateWorks Foundation.
If appointed, you will join a research team led by Javier Lezaun and hosted by the University of Oxford's Institute for Science, Innovation and Society (InSIS) and the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography (SAME).
You will be responsible for carrying out research on the international policies and politics of Greenhouse Gas Removal/Carbon Dioxide Removal, as part of InSIS research activities in this area. You will also design, conduct and analyse stakeholder engagement processes focused on the public understanding of GGR; analyse data and collaborate in the writing and publication of academic articles, book chapters and policy briefs; contribute ideas for new research projects, and contribute to the writing of new research funding bids.
You will present papers at conferences or public meetings; act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on methodologies or procedures; represent the research group at external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the group or alone; carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups; develop ideas for generating research income, and present detailed research proposals to senior researchers.
You will hold a PhD/Dphil in a relevant social science discipline (e.g. Science and Technology Studies, Anthropology, Geography, Environmental Humanities, Environmental Studies, Politics and International Relations, Policy Studies) together with relevant experience. You will possess sufficient specialist knowledge on climate policy and politics to work within established research programmes and have professional and/or academic research experience in the science/policy interface. You will have proficiency in qualitative methods (including interviews) in the study of public opinion and/or policy processes and deliberations. You must have the ability to manage own academic research and associated activities and possess excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings. You should have previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations and the ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation.
The duration of the post is 1 year.
The application deadline is 8 October 2020
For a Job Description, and to apply, please visit the Oxford University Jobs portal. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your application. Please note all applications are to be made online.
