Postdoctoral Position in Policy Analysis for Multifunctional Small Waterbodies 

Published: 2023-02-02

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University focuses on subjects that range from the Earth's core to the atmosphere, on scales from submicroscopic structures in minerals to the formation of mountains and oceans, and from basic research on natural resources to research on how humans manage these resources in a sustainable way. For more information please visit:  The Department of Earth Sciences.

The postdoctoral position is located in Uppsala within the research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. The research of the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Programme within focuses on the different dimensions of sustainable development. We consider the environment and its natural resources and ecosystem services as an overarching foundation for society and economy and aim at providing knowledge on how to utilize natural resources in a sustainable way. Our work involves considerations of both natural and social systems and their interactions, often adopting transdisciplinary approaches.

The position is part of the FORMAS-funded project PUDDLE JUMP: Promoting Upstream-Downstream Directed Linkages in the Environment: “Joined-Up” Management Perspectives. PUDDLE JUMP will contribute to “joined up” thinking about hydrological and other ecosystem services that can be provided by small artificial waterbodies (SAWs: ponds and wetlands).

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Duties

The work of the post-doc will focus on challenges faced by municipalities when incorporating SAWs into planning and decision making. The work will include two main tasks: 1) Policy analysis of barriers and opportunities for multifunctional, catchment-scale landscape planning and implementation of SAWs. This will encompass a desk study and content analysis of policy documents, as well as interviews and a workshop with relevant stakeholders. 2) Analysis of the recreational and social ecosystem services offered by SAWs, based on a survey distributed to different stakeholders and general public, and using photos or illustrations of SAWs to reveal their attractiveness to respondents. In addition, the post-doc will also collaborate with researchers in the project with regard to other tasks, for example on citizen science and awareness raising. In addition to research, the researcher may be expected to supervise master thesis projects within the PUDDLE JUMP and conduct some administration related tasks.

Requirements

PhD degree in political sciences, sustainability studies, environmental sciences or similar,o r a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree as above. Research interests relevant to the PUDDLE JUMP project. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

The successful candidate will have experience in policy and/or discourse analysis, work with interviews and surveys, and interdisciplinary research work. Skills in Swedish are required, as the research will predominantly cover the Swedish policy context and will involve communication with Swedish stakeholders.

Additional qualifications

Skills and experiences in leading or working in collaborative projects, organising and facilitating stakeholder involvement processes, and engaging diverse land use stakeholders (e.g. in interviews, surveys, workshops) is an advantage. Skills in design and/or image manipulation techniques, as well as drawing are also advantageous.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 1 September 2023, or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Malgorzata Blicharska, phone number +46 76 822 66 16+ email: malgorzata.blicharska@geo.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 11 April 2023, UFV-PA 2023/425.

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