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The Institute of Global Change Research of the Czech Academy of Science (CzechGlobe) is seeking a Researcher to join the Department of Human Dimensions of Global Change. The position is a fixed term contract and will mainly contribute to the PLANET4B project funded under the Horizon Europe research programme.

About the employer

Global Change Research Institute CAS (CzechGlobe) is one of the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences. CzechGlobe conducts comprehensive scientific research on issues of the global climate change and its impacts on the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems and human society through the use of the up-to-date research techniques and instrumentation. The research focuses primarily on the development of climate and its future scenarios, on the carbon cycle and the effects of changing conditions on the production and biodiversity of ecosystems and on the impacts on the future development and behavior of our society. CzechGlobe currently operates a unique research facility, which consists of wide network of permanent ecosystem research stations, atmospheric research station, laboratory of metabolomics, system of long-term impact experiments and a flying laboratory of imaging systems (FLIS). CzechGlobe is integrated into international research networks such as the European integrated research system for carbon observation – ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System), ANAEE (Analysis and Experimentation on Ecosystem), ACTRIS (European Research Infrastructure for the observation of Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases) or EUFAR (European Facility for Airborne Research).

The Department of Human Dimensions of Global Change is focussed on research that explores the relationships between human society, natural systems and global change. The work is inter- and trans-disciplinary, with an emphasis on the policy and practical use of research results. As such, researchers are skilled at bringing together scientists and knowledge from a range of disciplines, alongside practitioners and civil society to identify pertinent research gaps, and co-create relevant knowledge and solutions to environmental problems.

To learn more about CzechGlobe, see: https://www.czechglobe.cz/en/

To read the blog of the Department of Human Dimensions, see: https://sustainablecz.org/

About the project

This position sits in the ongoing PLANET4B Horizon Europe research project (started in November 2022, ends in October 2025). Main aim of this project is to understand and influence decision making affecting biodiversity. Through transdisciplinary, creative, action-orientated and participatory research including case studies, the project will collect and analyse theories, methods and good practices to bridge the gaps in knowledge and effective decision making. The findings will be synthesized and scaled up to EU and global levels to serve as inputs for policies, and for businesses and civil society about how transformative change can be triggered. The project is a cooperation between 16 partners, universities, NGOs and other organisations, from all around Europe.

You can visit a project homepage for more information about its aims, partners, and activities.

About the role

The position is suited to someone who is an established researcher or expands her/his research career in socio-ecological research, political or other social science with a specific focus on governance and policies, sustainability science, and/or inter- and transdisciplinary research. You will be supported in improving a publication record (through co- and lead-authorship), will have opportunity to present at conferences, and will have access to skills and experiences held by our department research community. The projects will introduce you to a broad range of collaborators, allowing you to extend your professional network. Specifically, your role will contain:

  • Contribution to development and implementation of the methodology for systems mapping and identification of transformational interventions (leverage points) across real-world case studies in Europe.
  • Participation in analytical tasks related to systems and interventions across real-world case studies in Europe.
  • Co-facilitation of stakeholder workshops
  • Participation in project meetings dedicated to the specific task force groups and work packages Travels to project meetings and short visits to case study locations across Europe
  • Contribution to the academic community of the department (participation in regular department meetings, blog posts, etc.)
  • (Co-)authoring and publishing academic papers.

You will work closely with Dr. Blanka Louckova, MSc. Patricia Ofori-Amanfo, Prof. Julia Leventon, and Dr. Simeon Vano in these tasks.

Person specification

Essential

  • Excellent spoken and written English
  • A masters degree in sustainability science, environmental social science, political science, sociology, or other relevant discipline.
  • Experience with conducting research in cross-cultural settings
  • Collaboration with other colleagues, the ability to understand people, policy and politics and their role in creating and solving sustainability problems
  • A commitment to creating a thriving intellectual community in the department, embedded within the broader institute
  • A commitment to creating a real-world impact from research by communicating beyond academia to policy, practice and public forums.

Desirable

  • PhD in sustainability science, environmental social science, political science, sociology, or other relevant discipline
  • Experience with designing research and methodologies and working in inter- and trans-disciplinary research environments
  • Experience with international research projects (ideally projects funded under EU schemes)
  • Excellent communication skills while working in international environments.
  • A track record of academic publishing (relative to opportunity).

Remuneration and benefits

  • Competitive salary agreed based on experience, plus meal vouchers
  • Thriving academic environment (seminars, discussions, reading clubs, peer-to-peer skills training, etc.)
  • Career development opportunities offered by CzechGlobe (language classes, training workshops, CzechGlobe internal grant agency for small funding for PhD and post-doctoral researchers to develop their own research ideas)
  • Support in developing own funding proposals for future research, both as an individual and as a member of a team
  • Office in Prague, a combination both home and in-office working, flexible working hours

Contract details

  • Contract length: 2 years
  • Contract start: autumn 2023
  • FTE: 0,5 – 1,0 to be agreed before contract commences.
  • We will consider job shares.

To apply

For informal enquiries, contact Prof. Julia Leventon (Head of Department), at leventon.j@czechglobe.cz.

To submit your application, send the following documents to jobs@czechglobe.cz by 30th September 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 4th October, with interviews planned for 9th and 10th October 2023.

  • your academic CV
  • the names and contact details of 2 referees
  • cover letter that addresses the person specification provided above

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