Postdoctoral researcher in social movements and climate change

Lunds universitet

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has 40 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition. 

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University is one of the leading education and research institutions in Sweden and operates both in Lund and Helsingborg. 

We invite applications for a bright, creative, energetic researcher to be based for two years at LUCSUS, Sweden. The applicant will be part of the project ‘Global Attribution Models, Mediation and Mobilisation (GAMES)’ funded by FORMAS. The project goal is to shed new light on the relationship between social movements, climate change and specific extreme events and their impacts in law and society.

In particular, the researcher will investigate how attribution science of extreme events influences social movements and on how legal frameworks create constraints or opportunities for social mobilisation. The geographical focus is on Sweden with possibility for comparisons with other relevant events and cases including Australia and Southern Africa.

The position is within the interdisciplinary environment of LUCSUS, the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (https://www.lucsus.lu.se/). LUCSUS includes about 40 staff (faculty, postdocs, and PhD students), who study a range of issues from global environmental governance to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. LUCSUS also runs an international master’s programme in sustainability science (LUMES, http://www.lumes.lu.se/), with about 50 students each year from 20+ countries.

The position will be supervised by Principal Investigator Prof. Emily Boyd, Director at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS). She is an expert in the social science dimensions of climate change and sustainability science and the Principle Investigator of FORMAS National Programme on Climate Change on Disproportionate Impacts of Climate Extremes (DICE). This project includes collaboration with Oxford University (Friederike Otto, Richard Jones), and Copenhagen University (Kristian Lauta), as well as partners in Bristol University (Rachel James).

Position Instructions

Research Focus (80% time)

The focus of the work is to conduct analysis on social mobilisation and link the attribution analysis data to legal analyses, as well as connecting to collaborators in the field. This entails combining top-down and bottom-up theories and approaches in ways that demonstrate a mature understanding of the potential of combining natural and social sciences. The work includes mapping of theories and applied understandings of social movements alongside development of the environmental and climatological understanding of the events, and developing an empirical set of understandings of social movements under climate change, as well as carrying out case study work in different locations with interviews and surveys. The postdoc will be required to connect to scientists that are exploring ways to extend attribution frameworks from examining hazards to incorporating data about vulnerability and exposure, and connect to legal scholars to extend attribution results into legal terms and legal requirements. In addition, he/she will be expected to maintain excellent data and analysis records following open data practices; carry out fieldwork and organization of workshops; lead the analysis and writing of peer-reviewed publications; contribute to stakeholder engagement and outreach at the Swedish and international levels to involve government, non-government, and private interests in the research design through dissemination.

Administrative and Service Focus- (20% time)

Contribute to project management and reporting, including contributing to reports to funders, outreach materials for stakeholders, and regular website and social media updates. Co-supervise MSc student theses and teaching, especially those working on climate change.

Required Qualifications:

Completed PhD degree in related field (human geography, social environmental science, development studies with governance or legal understanding). Demonstrated research record, including record of successful collaboration and co-operation with others, particularly interdisciplinary collaboration.

Excellent qualitative and quantitative survey skills, including experience in interview techniques, ethnographic and participatory research. Experience of fieldwork, awareness of research ethics, and experience working with stakeholders and teams in research. Please address these skills directly in your research proposal.

Ability to work creatively and independently in designing and leading research, while also taking direction as part of a team. Management experience of research teams (e.g., supervision of students or research assistants). Excellent academic writing skills, including leading the development of well-argued and clearly written scientific manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication. Strong scientific integrity and ethics. Fluent in written and spoken academic English and some understanding of Swedish would be an advantage.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of legal and governance frameworks in Sweden and familiarity with working with large datasets. Experience in popular science writing and communication (blog posts, social media). Website management and design.

The Postdoctoral researcher in social movements and climate change is a 2 year position.

Application instructions

The application should include a cogent research plan to demonstrate an understanding of the research focus in the context of social movements and mobilisation in relation to climate extremes. In particular, the plan should present how different methods can be combined to arrive at new insights for how social movements are responding to climate science and how this links to legal frameworks.

The successful application will demonstrate feasibility by asking a clear and focused research question and contain a research design of sufficient detail to answer the question. (The actual research carried out over the course of the postdoc may change from the proposed plan.)

A complete application consists of:

Cover page: Short motivation of the applicant and connection with the position, including how this position serves future career goals. Include name and contact information of applicant (1 page max)

CV: Academic and professional background, detailing relevant experience, particularly research. Any publications (separate peer-reviewed, technical reports, and popular science or outreach). Any teaching experience. Include names and contact information for three academic or professional references who can speak to your professional and teamwork abilities. At least one should be a former or current research supervisor.

Research Proposal: Project title (max. 20 words) Project abstract (max. 200 words) Main research proposal text (max.1200 words) Research question(s) or hypotheses, in the context of their relevance to GAMES’ goals. Research plan, including methods and feasibility. Expected outcomes and significance, and any expected results. Applications must be submitted in Times New Roman (12 pt), 1.5 line spacing, and margins 2.5 cm.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset. We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.