Research Fellow in Food Systems Transformation (Analytical Support)

Contract Type – Fixed Term – March 2024 – February 2027     

Full Time – 35 Hours Per Week

We are looking to hire a highly motivated Research Fellow in Food Systems Thinking (Analytical Support), with excellent analytical, organisational and interpersonal skills, to work on our new Wellcome Trust Living Good Food Nation Lab project (https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/people-and-projects/grants-awarded/building-health-centred-net-zero-aligned-food ).

This project is closely linked to exciting new Scottish legislation, the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act, and aims to support its ongoing implementation. Led by University of Edinburgh Business School, our transdisciplinary team brings together academic, governmental, public sector and 3rd  sector partners with expertise in nutrition and public health, environmental modelling, public food procurement, food policy and governance, anthropology, and sociology, of food, food and procurement law, social policy, behavioural change, and food systems transformation. 

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week) however, we are open to considering part-time (4-5 days) and/or flexible working patterns.  We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working with a minimum requirement for 2 days/week on campus working.

The Opportunity:

Working closely with Professor Jaccks and Dr Alexander (Unit Leads – Analytical Unit), the Research Fellow in Food Systems Transformation (Analytical Support) will provide essential analytical support to relevant authorities in Scotland including reviewing, refining, and baselining a basket of indictors of progress for measuring food systems transformation. Indicators will cover the outcome categories listed in the GFN Act namely: 1) the environment, including climate change, wildlife and the natural environment; 2) health and physical and mental wellbeing; 3) social and economic wellbeing; 4) economic development, 5) animal welfare, 6) education, and 7) child poverty. 

Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD or equivalent professional experience in relevant field. This includes a wide range of possible quantitative disciplines such as economics, statistics, environmental science, or epidemiology.
• Skills in writing for academic and/or stakeholder audiences, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or stakeholder outputs.
• Interest in food systems transformation in Scotland
• Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a diverse team. 
• Highly organized and adept at multi-tasking.