Postdoctoral Research Associate - Biocultural adaptation of resource management traditions under the

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on the AHRC/Belmont Forum-funded project 'Biocultural adaptation of resource management traditions under the effects of climate change'. The project is an international, interdisciplinary collaboration between Durham University (UK), the RAND Corporation (USA), the University of Zurich (Switzerland), and the Hoonah Indian Association. It aims to understand the ways in which the transmission of indigenous ecological knowledge may provide a source of resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation to the effects of climate change through a comparative study of four sites: Hoonah AK, Zhetysu Kazakhstan, Chiapas Mexico, and Khovd Mongolia.

The successful applicant will be expected to analyse mixed qualitative-quantitative data on the cultural transmission of indigenous ecological knowledge collected from the four sites, characterising and comparing patterns using appropriate statistical techniques, such as cultural evolutionary modeling, network analysis and cultural consensus analysis. They will work under the direction of the project UK PI, Professor Jamshid Tehrani, in collaboration with the consortium PI, Dr. Luke Matthews and other project Investigators.

Key responsibilities:

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To contribute to high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To work with the Principal Investigator and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• To analyse interview and archival data using quantitative methods and modelling techniques.
• [Any other specific responsibilities].

This post is fixed term for 24 months. The project is time limited and will end when the funding expires in February 2027.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by the UK PI Professor Tehrani. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her/their own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by January 2025.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

1. A good first degree in Anthropology, Psychology, Biology, or a related subject.
2. A PhD (or be close to submission) in Anthropology, Psychology, Biology, or a related subject.

Experience

1. Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
2. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
3. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
4. Experience in quantitative analysis of cultural or ecological datasets.

Skills

1. Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
2. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
4. Excellent computational and quantitative skills.
5. Excellent academic writing skills.

Desirable Criteria

Experience

1. Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
2. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
3. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
4. Experience or knowledge in the areas of ecological sustainability and/or indigenous ontologies including traditional ecological knowledge.
5. Experience with collection of qualitative primary data in the form of interviews, archives, surveys, freelists, and other anthropological data collection techniques.
6. Experience and/or interest in evolutionary and network theories for cultural transmission.

Skills

1. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.
2. Analytical skills in the areas of cultural transmission, network analysis, or cultural consensus analysis.