The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) offers a 3-year PhD research position as part of the research project BIOTraces – Biodiversity and Transformative Change for Plural and Nature-Positive Societies (GA: 101081923), funded by the European Commission under the call HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01-09, and which has the estimated duration of four years. The PhD will be undertaken in collaboration with the Centre for Science, Technology & Policy Studies of the University of Twente, the Netherlands.
PhD student “BIOTraCes”
About the project:
BIOTraCes (HE, RIA, 101081923) develops knowledge, tools and novel approaches that enable transformative changes necessary for achieving a nature-positive society. Focused on analysing the challenges and lock-ins which undermine the proper implementation of the nature-based solutions in the territories (such as sociocultural and political variables), the project aims to contribute to more inclusive, effective and just public policies, local strategies and corporate concerns on biodiversity aligned with the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project will engage with diverse stakeholder networks in 9 European-based biodiversity initiatives in high-impact sectors – agriculture & food, forestry, water, and urbanisation.
Job description:
Among the nine case studies, the PhD student will be involved in one case study that centres around formation of values about nature in early education and the role of greening schools. The case study will be in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (European Green Capital 2012) in the Basque Country, in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Studies of the city. The case study, as the other eight cases, will involve transdisciplinary approaches with active involvement of a diversity of stakeholders to coproduce new applicable and solutions-oriented knowledge.
Main requirements/skills:
- Master’s degree in environmental sciences, geography, ecological economics, political science, science and technology studies, or other social sciences and humanities.
- Solid quantitative or/and qualitative skills.
- Excellent communication skills. Fluency in English is required and a working level of Spanish (Basque language knowledge would be desirable but not mandatory).
- A strong motivation, interest in socio-environmental issues, understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration and ability to work independently is also desirable.
Benefits and work environment:
- 35-hour week work calendar.
- 30 days of vacation per year
- We are offering an excellent research environment and close cooperation with a dynamic team and a network of international collaborators.
Term of contract
The position is for a period up to three years (March 2023 – Feb 2026) with a possibility for extending it upon a positive assessment of the performance.
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Salary
The position will carry competitive salary, matching the academic and professional profile of the applicant, and excellent work conditions.
Location
Basque Centre for Climate Change, Leioa (Spain) and would be required to visit the Centre for Science, Technology & Policy Studies of the University of Twente, at least twice per year. The successful candidate will also be expected to spend some periods of time in Vitoria-Gasteiz while conducting fieldwork.
As an HR Excellence awarded institution, BC3 is committed to conciliating research-academic requirements and family duties. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equal opportunities for people independently of gender, culture, and race. Anyone with relevant qualifications is therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.
Application procedure:
Fill the form below and upload one PDF document with the following information:
- a brief description of research interest and motivation for doing a PhD (maximum 2 pages),
- a CV (maximum 2 pages)
- two reference letters,
- copies of your first degree and master degree transcripts including obtained marks across all subjects studied, including Master thesis.
Deadline
1st February, 2023 (CET 17:00).
A shortlist of candidates will be interviewed during February and it is expected that the PhD will start in March 2023.
Supervision
The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by Ikerbasque Research Professor Unai Pascual (BC3) and Professor Esther Turnhout (University of Twente). The successful candidate will be registered as PhD student at the University of Twente.
Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. Unai Pascual (unai.pascual@bc3research.org) noting in the subject of the message “BioTraces PhD position”.
Please consider that only applications sent through the form included at the bottom of the BC3 web page will be considered (https://info.bc3research.org/job-offers/).
Call: HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01
