Postdoctoral researcher position on urban adaptation under the ERC funded project IMAGINE Adaptation


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The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) offers a full-time postdoctoral researcher position to support the research activities in the context of the European Research Council (ERC) project IMAGINE Adaptation (ID: 101039429), led by Dr. Marta Olazabal. This is a 5‑year research project funded by the ERC that will be developed in the framework of the Adaptation Lab (Research Line 4) and the cross-cutting Urban Theme at BC3.

The project ‘IMAGINE adaptation’ addresses the imperative of how to evaluate adaptation in urban areas as a contemporary complex phenomenon with implications across governance scales. It argues that the current focus on policy progress can be useful as a first step, but it is not indicative of effective adaptation. 

In this project, we aim to explore broader understandings of success in adaptation that transcend technocratic approaches and consider equity, justice and maladaptive issues. In order to enable evaluation and learning from these diverse understandings of adaptation, ‘IMAGINE adaptation’ has four timely and ambitious objectives: first, the reformulation of the concept of successful adaptation using expert and local views. Second, the exploration of trends and needs regarding monitoring and evaluation and how these may enable or hinder adaptation. Third, the development of a comparative case study research across 12 urban areas worldwide. Finally, the analysis of how evaluations of local progress can inform global goals. The outputs of this project aim to be a reference for future adaptation assessment studies and to pioneer the understanding of the ways to enable far-reaching transformative urban adaptation through processes of evaluation and learning.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher who can support the Principal Investigator in the kicking off of the project and in its scientific development along its 5 years of project life.

Job description: The postdoctoral researcher will be participating in various activities in the project related to research and science communication. The researcher is expected to lead a large-scale experiment in 100 cities worldwide to elicit urban adaptation imaginaries through the application of the Q methodology. They are also expected to lead case studies during Years 3 to 5 of the project and help setting up communities of practice for the evaluation of adaptation. International travel will be expected to develop field work and a short-term scientific stay is also foreseen. Generally, the researcher will support the PI and the rest of the team to achieve the scientific objectives of the project, to develop effective task management and to collaboratively work, publish and disseminate project findings. We seek for highly motivated candidates to:

  • work in an international ground-breaking project,
  • develop transdisciplinary work and find value in science through co-creation,
  • use both theoretical and empirical qualitative and quantitative approaches to respond to key project questions, and
  • turn findings into both scientific and policy outputs that can deliver a real change.

Key responsibilities:

  1. Develop the urban adaptation imaginaries study across 100 cities worldwide.
  2. Develop three case studies in cities worldwide to evaluate adaptation interventions through comparative transdisciplinary co-creation research.
  3. Collaborate in building communities of practice across the 12 city case studies.
  4. Support the organisation of project meetings and conferences across the project.
  5. Help training and mentoring other team members.

Main requirements:

  1. The field of urban adaptation is purely interdisciplinary, there is no specific degree which is required for this job offer, but a training in the field of climate change adaptation or/and urban governance, policy and planning is required.
  2. Strong background on urban climate governance research evidenced by previous works including PhD or postdoctoral research is required.
  3. Strong analytical skills, good knowledge of statistics and experience using R.
  4. The applicant must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as excellent written and oral command of English is required. A good command of other language(s) is desirable as it will be a basis for the selection of city case studies.
  5. Ability to work collaboratively, experience in stakeholder participatory processes and conducting transdisciplinary work.

IMPORTANT: Applications including links to previous works/projects/initiatives that show how the applicant meets these requirements will be given priority. See “Application procedure”.

Benefits and work environment

  • Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment
  • Quiet and spacious work spaces
  • Possibility of participating in internal training, learning or corporate social responsibility activities of the center
  • 35-hour week work calendar
  • 30 days of vacation per year

Term of contract

Starting 1st of November 2022, the position will be initially for a period of 3 years, with a 3-months probation period based on the performance of the work. Guaranteed opportunities for longer term employment upon successful performance after the 3 years will be offered, including a salary review.

Salary

The position will carry a salary matching the academic and professional profile of the applicant (BC3 postdoctoral positions gross salaries are in the range of 30,000 to 36,000 euros/year), and excellent work conditions.

Location

Basque Centre for Climate Change, Leioa, Spain.

As a HR Excellence awarded institution, BC3 is committed to conciliate research-academic requirements and family duties. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equality opportunities for people. Women with relevant qualifications are therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.

Application procedure:

Please, fill in the form included at the bottom of this page.

Those interested should include in their request:

  1. ONE PDF document with
    • 4-pages CV including contacts of two referees.
    • One-page MOTIVATION LETTER.
    • Half-page bulleted list explaining how you meet the 5 requirements of this job offer (see above). You may include links to previous works/projects/initiatives.

Deadline

26th June 2022 (CET 17:00).

 
  • The personal information you provide through this job offer, will be registered in the data processing systems responsibility of BC3 for the purpose of managing your participation in the current selection process. This personal information will not be communicated to any recipient except those required by law, and will not be used for any other purpose different than the one stated here.
  • * Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of personal data of natural persons
  • You may access your right to access, amend, delete, limit or oppose processing and transfer of the personal data provided by means of a written request, accompanied by a photocopy of your National ID Document, sent to ARCrights@BC3research.org. In the same fashion, you may withdraw your consent at any time, and this shall bear no effect on data processing conducted before this withdrawal. In any event, you may file the pertinent claim with the Spanish Data Protection Agency.You can check our privacy policy here
 
 
 

Verification

Project 101039429 — IMAGINE adaptation

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María de Maeztu Excellence Unit 2023-2027 Ref. CEX2021-001201-M, funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033

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