School/Department School of Water, Energy and Environment
Based at Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday
Contract type Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period 12 Months
Salary £30,000 per annum (Research Assistant) or £32,656 per annum (Research Fellow)
Posted Date 05/03/2019
Apply by 04/04/2019

Role Description

Agricultural Drought Impacts and Communication

Here at Cranfield, we can offer you the opportunity and resources to really develop your career. Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.

The School of Water, Energy and Environment is committed to leading in its areas of expertise through investing in world class staff and facilities over the long term.

You will contribute to the delivery of Cranfield University’s work in agricultural drought management for the STAR (Strengthening Thailand's Agricultural drought Resilience) project, which is funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council and will involve fieldwork in Thailand.

You will use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to understand past drought impacts on agriculture and farmers' vulnerability to droughts within the Ping river basin in northern Thailand.  This understanding will be used to inform and co-design adaptation responses and drought monitoring practices to support increased agricultural drought resilience.  You will work closely with staff at Cranfield University, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and leading Thai universities with international track records in agricultural water management, water resources, policy and economics and drought forecasting.  

You will have a PhD (obtained or near completion) in geography, environmental sciences, agriculture or related disciplines and be able to demonstrate an excellent understanding of agricultural systems and agro-hydrological processes. You will have experience with methods of data collection in qualitative research (e.g., surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, workshops) and application of a broad range of qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques.  Ideally you will have experience of conducting field work overseas and be enthusiastic about stakeholder engagement with farmers and other stakeholders in Thailand.

Your career at Cranfield will be enhanced through access to fully equipped shared laboratory and pilot facilities, extensive research and business training through our learning and development team and doctoral training centres in a collegiate and supportive environment.

For an informal discussion, please contact: Ian Holman, Professor of Integrated Land and Water Management, i.holman@cranfield.ac.uk

At Cranfield, we value Diversity and Inclusion, and aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect and realise their full potential. We actively consider flexible working options such as part-time, compressed or flexible hours and/or an element of homeworking, and commit to exploring the possibilities for each role.

Expected interview date: 15 April 2019