2X POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Ref Number

B04-04826

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

UCL BEAMS (B04)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

See advert text

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid (20% – 80% on site)

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

11-Apr-2024

The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL) is an international centre specialising in academic teaching, practical training, research and consultancy in the fields of urban and regional development and planning. It is concerned with promoting sustainable forms of development, understanding rapid urbanisation and encouraging innovation in the policy, planning and management responses to the economic, social and environmental development of cities and regions, especially in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (BSSC) is one of the world’s leading academic centres of excellence in the management of projects, infrastructure delivery, construction and infrastructure economics and finance, real estate and urban economics, digital transformations in facilities and built asset management, and sustainable and data-driven change in the construction industry and its supply chains. Staff have strong international links with other leading global universities, and strategic relationships with relevant parts of government, key organisations in specific fields and major companies, in and beyond construction and infrastructure.

More information on the DPU and BSSC can be found here:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/development/bartlett-development-planning-unit
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/construction/

Based in the DPU and BSSC’s vibrant hive of activity in London (UK), we are hiring two full time post-doctoral research fellows (PDRFs) to work on a new three-year UKRI project entitled, ‘Listen, Learn & Leap: Co-producing Equitable and Sustainable Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience in East African Cities’.

Led by Associate Professor Jordana Ramalho at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL, LISTEN, LEARN & LEAP is an international project that aims to explore the socio-political factors that support the uptake, sustainability and institutionalisation of nature-based solutions (NbS) in two important East African capital cities, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, with an explicit focus on the needs and active involvement of young people, and especially women and girls.

LISTEN, LEARN & LEAP will be delivered in partnership with partners and organisations based in Africa, and in direct engagement with academic institutions, consultants as well as local community-based organisations. The project follows a methodology of knowledge co-production, combining quantitative and qualitative methods with processes that integrate the knowledge of urban practitioners and communities through participatory processes.

The post holders will work across the following work packages with objectives as follows: 1) Listen: to document, evidence and learn from existing knowledge, experiences of, and experiments in managing water risks through NbS to enhance our understanding of the context-specific and communal factors that shape the equity, efficiency and sustainability of NbS, and the barriers and entry points for scaling-up or mainstreaming community-driven interventions into urban planning processes; 2) Learn: to facilitate the co-production of community-driven NbS in new locations and develop methodologies that produce actionable knowledge on the environmental, socio-cultural, financial and institutional considerations that drive or derail equitable, sustainable and resilient NbS to urban water issues in complex urban settings; 3) Leap: to foster cross-sectoral municipal and regional dialogue and knowledge exchange between community-based organisations, civil society and institutional actors to identify common goals and practical guidance around institutionalising and scaling-up inclusive community-led NbS to advance equitable urban climate resilience in East Africa and beyond.

You must hold a PhD in a relevant area (e.g. urban studies, development studies, infrastructure engineering, human geography, development planning, gender, or environmental studies).

Fieldwork experience overseas, preferably in Africa, with a proven ability to engage with communities in complex settings and/or municipal government through a range of participatory methods (including meetings, focus groups, workshops, and policy discussions)

Knowledge of local governance, urban development, gender and urban inequality, grey/green/blue infrastructure (nature-based solutions, water, and sanitation), or urban climate resilience in any of the project countries (Tanzania, Kenya) or in other African countries.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
On-Site nursery
On-site gym
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Discounted medical insurance

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.