Research Associate (Taxonomy)
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Thank you for your interest in our exciting PDRA opportunities at the School of Social and Environmental Sustainability, College of Social Science.
The University of Glasgow is committed to empowering researchers to identify and achieve their career goals and realise their full potential.
Our vision within the College of Social Sciences is to produce world-class social science research and scholarship that delivers positive impacts on societies and economies.
To deliver on this vision, we focus our efforts on making Glasgow the best University in which to develop a research career in the social sciences, a University with a collegiate and collaborative research environment, excellent support for research income generation, research and scholarship outputs and innovative approaches to engagement with external stakeholders.
The School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
Set in 85 acres of historic parkland, the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, Dumfries Campus is situated in south-west Scotland. Combining idyllic surroundings with world-class teaching and research, our close-knit community is made up of students and staff from more than 40 countries. Creative and picturesque, Dumfries has a lively arts and festival scene, strong cultural heritage and a wealth of outdoor activities including hiking and cycling trails, rivers and lochs.
The innovative work of our research staff and students has an impact locally, regionally and internationally.
Job purpose
The successful candidate will help manage and direct this complex and challenging project and will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and related research proposals.
Main duties & responsibilities
- Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project research
- Document research outputs including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, monitoring project’s progress, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
- Liaise with all partners of the project in preparation for meetings, workshops organization, surveys implementation and all related fieldwork/data collection.
- Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research.
- Present work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, olloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile and disseminate the project’s outputs/outcomes.
- Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist Prof Riganti in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.
- Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/School/College/University and wider community (e.g. Academic and Industrial Partners).
- Disseminating the project’s achievements in meetings/seminars/workshops at School/College level.
- Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research project, including Budgets/Expenditure.
- Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field of environmental economics, ecosystem services valuation, applied cultural economics and heritage studies.
- Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by Prof Riganti.
- Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, Inspiring People Changing The World.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential
- A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) or alternatively possess the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience, with experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s)
- A2 A degree in environmental economics or ecological economics
- A3 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within environmental economics/ecological economics
Desirable
- B1 Knowledge of ecosystem services valuation/classification
- B2 Knowledge of stated and revealed preferences methods
Skills
Essential
- C1 Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner
- C2 Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design & analysis of experiments & drafting of papers
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C3 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.
Desirable
- D1 A background in applied ecosystems services valuation
Experience
Essential
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E1 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher
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E2 A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences
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E3 Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities
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E4 Experience in undertaking independent research
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E5 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage
Desirable
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F1 Experience of ecosystem services valuation/classification applied research
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F2 Experience of applications of stated or revealed preferences methods to cultural heritage
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F3 Experience of developing taxonomies
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F4 Experience of typological analysis
Campus development plan
Our Vision
Over the next 10 years, the major investment will expand our campus footprint by 25%, creating a new urban quarter with the University at the heart of a revitalised west end. This is the largest development since the creation of the original campus in 1870.
This is a unique opportunity for a University to extend the boundaries of its historic core in a central city location. It will create:
- New learning and teaching facilities
- Refurbishment and repurposing of existing iconic buildings for specialist uses
- Identification and design of social spaces that support the student and community experience.
The expansion of our Gilmorehill campus into the 14 acre, former Western Infirmary site will transform the West End of Glasgow. The Masterplan for the site will incorporate:
- New learning and teaching facilities supporting our students and making sure they get the best in modern teaching and learning styles and approaches
- Creation of a Research Hub, housing large-scale multidisciplinary projects and incubator space for spin out collaborations with industry. This will encourage further innovation development
- New public cycle and pedestrian routes and a new central square which will link Byres Road to the up-and-coming cultural quarter for the West End, with new links to Kelvingrove and the newly-refurbished Kelvin Hall
- Refurbishment of five listed buildings: The Chapel, the Outpatients building, the Macgregor building, the Tennent Institute and Anderson College
- Commercial opportunities, including a hotel, restaurant, bars and cafes
- The state of the art Learning and Teaching Hub adjacent to the Boyd Orr building on University Avenue will be completed next year.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created two guides to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 15th April 2024
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 7, £39,347 - £44,263 per annum, pro-rata.
This post is part time (17.5 hours per week) and fixed term for up to Fixed on 28/02/2026.
This post will be based in the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability in Dumfries. We do, however, have flexibility in regards to where the postholder will be based and will be happy to discuss this in more detail at the interview. Please note that there is an expectation that the successful candidate will need to travel to Dumfries on a regular basis as required by the PI. The University will not cover the cost of overnight stays or travel costs to visit the Dumfries Campus and the successful candidate will need to be based in the UK for the duration of the contract.
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
A flexible approach to working.
A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community new
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability